Efforts to revive nuclear negotiations between Iran and the United States face renewed uncertainty after Tehran warned that talks would “lead nowhere” if Washington insists on a complete halt to Iranian uranium enrichment.
Speaking to Iranian state media on Monday, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takhtravanchi rejected the idea of zero enrichment, describing the activity as a “national achievement” that Iran would not relinquish. His remarks followed a statement from U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, who reaffirmed the American position that any new agreement must include a commitment from Iran to cease all enrichment.
“Our position on enrichment is clear and we have repeatedly stated that it is a national achievement from which we will not back down,” Takhtravanchi said.
Uranium enrichment remains a central point of contention in negotiations aimed at resolving a nuclear dispute that has spanned two decades. The process, which Iran says is for peaceful energy purposes, can also be used to develop material suitable for nuclear weapons. The U.S. and other Western governments have expressed longstanding concerns over Tehran’s nuclear intentions.
The talks, which have resumed under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump, are taking place against the backdrop of a broader effort to reduce tensions in the Gulf region. During a recent tour of the region, Trump claimed that a new deal was “very close” and urged Iran to act swiftly to reach an agreement.
However, Iranian officials have voiced scepticism over U.S. motives. On Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei accused Washington of undermining progress by issuing public statements that conflict with what is being said in private discussions.
“Despite hearing contradictory statements from the Americans, we are still participating in negotiations,” Baghaei said.
A fifth round of negotiations is provisionally scheduled to take place in Rome later this week, pending final confirmation. The U.S. position marks a return to the hardline stance that characterised Trump’s first term in office from 2017 to 2021. During that period, the United States unilaterally withdrew from the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a multilateral agreement that had placed strict limits on Iran’s nuclear enrichment activities in return for sanctions relief.
At the time, Trump criticised the JCPOA as overly favourable to Tehran and reimposed sweeping sanctions. Iran responded by incrementally expanding its enrichment programme beyond the limits agreed under the deal.
The collapse of the JCPOA triggered a series of escalatory moves across the region, including attacks on shipping and energy infrastructure, drone strikes, and the assassination of senior Iranian and U.S. military figures.
While Trump’s second presidency has seen a renewed interest in diplomacy with Tehran, deep mistrust remains on both sides. The current talks, although ongoing, have yet to yield a breakthrough.
Analysts suggest that unless a compromise on the enrichment issue can be found, the prospects for a sustainable agreement remain slim. Iran insists that any deal must respect its sovereign right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes, a position rooted in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to which it is a signatory. Washington, by contrast, argues that any pathway to enrichment poses proliferation risks unless tightly controlled or eliminated.
European Union officials, who have acted as intermediaries in past negotiations, have not yet commented on the latest developments. Rome’s role as the next venue for talks indicates an attempt to provide a neutral setting for what could be a critical round of discussions.
As the diplomatic process continues, the situation remains volatile. The threat of further sanctions, coupled with regional instability and mutual distrust, casts a long shadow over hopes for a negotiated settlement.
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