Iran is approaching weekend talks with the United States over its nuclear program with little confidence in progress and more suspicion of US intentions, with officials claiming that Washington’s demands were “unacceptable” to Tehran.
The talks were announced on Monday by US president Donald Trump, who has constantly threatened to use military options against Iran if it fails to agree on a deal.
Iranian officials said that many of Trump’s demands would be non-starters.
“Trump wants a new deal: end Iran’s regional influence, dismantle its nuclear program, and halt its missile work. These are unacceptable to Tehran. Our nuclear program cannot be dismantled,” a senior Iranian official told reporters.
“Our defence is non-negotiable. How can Tehran disarm when Israel has nuclear warheads? Who protects us if Israel or others strike?” said another official.
Trump has said that negotiations on Saturday will be direct. Yet, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Tuesday that Tehran’s position is that they should be indirect, citing what he called US pressure and threats.
“Indirect negotiations can guarantee a genuine and effective dialogue,” he told reporters in Tehran.
In an opinion piece published in The Washington Post, Araghchi reiterated that a deal would be possible if the US showed goodwill while also warning against a military strike, which Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Tuesday would be “inevitable” if US-Iran talks drag on.
“To move forward today, we first need to agree that there can be no ‘military option,’ let alone a ‘military solution,'” Araghchi wrote.
“The proud Iranian nation, whose strength my government relies on for real deterrence, will never accept coercion and imposition.”
Israel, which has long regarded Iran as its biggest regional threat, defeated Tehran’s Lebanese ally Hezbollah last year. Netanyahu was with Trump on Monday when the US president announced Saturday’s talks.
The prime minister, who has repeatedly urged US governments to use strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, said a diplomatic solution would be good if it was done “in a full way,” citing the complete dismantling of Libya’s atomic program.
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