Araghchi: We cannot renounce uranium enrichment

Seyed Abbas Araghchi, Iran’s Foreign Minister, in an online interview with the American media outlet Fox News, explained Iran’s positions regarding its nuclear industry. The full text of the interview is as follows:

Q: Why don’t you import enriched uranium like some other countries? Why not make it part of the deal to stop domestic production and import it instead?

A: Because this is a scientific achievement; it’s something we have accomplished ourselves. Why should we import something we are fully capable of producing on our own?

Q: Because you increase enrichment to high levels — like 90% or 60% — while it should remain at 3.5%.

A: No, no, we never go to 90%. We are committed to remaining below 5% for nuclear power plant fuel. We also enrich up to 20% because we have a research reactor in Tehran called the Tehran Research Reactor (TRR). We enrich uranium solely to meet our own needs.

At one point, we did reach 60% enrichment — that was after acts of sabotage against our nuclear facilities. Yes, at that time we went to 60%, but I told the other parties during negotiations that if a nuclear agreement is reached, we will immediately return to lower levels.

Q: Has Iran resumed its enrichment program? Is it still ongoing, or has the damage been so severe that it has been completely halted?

A: The uranium enrichment process is currently halted because the damage [to our nuclear facilities] was very severe.

Certainly, we cannot abandon our enrichment, because this is the achievement of our scientists. Beyond that, it has now become a matter of national pride. Enrichment is very valuable to us.

Q: Mr. Minister, with all due respect, this isn’t just about America and Israel. Other world leaders also have concerns about Iran’s enrichment program. If this program is truly peaceful, why was it necessary to build it half a mile deep under a mountain for protection? That’s just part of the concern. Secondly, President Trump said that if Iran tries to restore its enrichment program, he won’t hesitate to launch more attacks. What is your response to President Trump?

A: Due to the continuous threats and pressures from Israel and the U.S. in the past, we had no choice but to protect our facilities, our nuclear materials, and our scientists.

My message to the U.S. is: Let’s find a negotiated solution to Iran’s nuclear program.

Q: Is Iran currently trying to assassinate former President Trump, former Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, former Ambassador John Bolton, and other Trump administration officials in retaliation for the killing of Qassem Soleimani?

A: No, we have never said such a thing. Perhaps some individuals here and there have made statements in this regard, but this has never been Iran’s official position.

Q: Ayatollah Khamenei has said “Death to America,” and this is interpreted as “Death to Trump.” This statement was made by Iran’s Supreme Leader. Also, an Iranian crowdfunding campaign called “Blood Vow” claimed it raised $40 million for a bounty on Trump’s head. This campaign emerged after several Iranian media outlets or government-affiliated institutions issued death warrants against Trump. So, it’s understandable why the U.S. government sees these signals as an indication that Iran is seeking assassination.

A: I think all of this is propaganda. We have always said, and this has been repeatedly stated by the Leader and our other officials, that the slogan “Death to America” refers to America’s policies, not its people. Some individuals or extremist groups, inside or outside of Iran, may make radical statements like the ones you mentioned, but this has never been, is not, and will not be the official policy of the Islamic Republic. We have no policy to assassinate anyone abroad, let alone the president of another country.