Insistence To Halt Uranium Enrichment Means No To agreenent: Foreign Minister

Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi says Iran still has the capabality to enrich uranium while it continues to be compliant with the fatwa by its Leader that bans possession of any WMDs.

Araqchi made the remarks in a recent interview with Financial Times (FT).

He stressed to the FT that the road to negotiation is narrow as he lays out conditions for renewed diplomacy after war.

The U.S. must agree to compensate Iran for losses incurred during last month’s war, the Islamic republic’s foreign minister said, as Tehran hardens its position and imposes new conditions for resuming nuclear talks with the Trump administration.

The minister further said that Iran would not agree to “business as usual” in the wake of the 12-day conflict with Israel, which the U.S. briefly joined despite having been in talks with Iran.

“They should explain why they attacked us in the middle of . . . negotiations, and they have to ensure that they are not going to repeat that [during future talks],” he said in an interview in Tehran. “And they have to compensate [Iran for] the damage that they have done.”

Araqchi, Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, said he and U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff exchanged messages with each other during and since the war, with the Iranian telling the American there needed to be a “win-win solution” to resolve the years-long stand-off over Iran’s nuclear programme.

“The road to negotiation is narrow but it’s not impossible. I need to convince my hierarchy that if we go for negotiation, the other side is coming with real determination for a win-win deal,” he said.

Araqchi said Witkoff has tried to convince him that it is possible and has proposed resuming talks. But the veteran Iranian diplomat added, “We need real confidence-building measures from their side.”

He said this should include financial compensation, without giving details, and assurances that Iran would not be attacked during negotiations again.

“My message [to Witkoff] is not that complicated,” Araqchi said. “I said the recent aggression proved there is no military solution for Iran’s nuclear programme, but a negotiated solution can be found.”

Araqchi said a third, new enrichment plant near Isfahan — which Tehran had days before the conflict said would be activated in response to censure by the International Atomic Energy Agency’s board of governors — was also attacked.

“As far as I know, the preparations were made [for enrichment], but it was not active when it was attacked,” Araqchi said.