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Iran has declared its right to enrich uranium a non-negotiable red line in any future talks with the United States, significantly raising the stakes in nuclear negotiations as regional tensions continue to escalate.
Nuclear Talks Hit Critical Impasse
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the declaration following indirect negotiations in Muscat, Oman on Friday, warning that “zero enrichment can never be accepted by us.” He emphasized that successful talks would require recognition of Iran’s enrichment rights, stating discussions must “accept enrichment inside Iran while building trust that enrichment is and will stay for peaceful purposes.”
A regional diplomat briefed by Iran told Reuters that Tehran remains open to discussing the “level and purity” of enrichment alongside other arrangements. However, Araghchi framed the issue as fundamental to Iranian sovereignty, saying “Iran’s insistence on enrichment is not merely technical or economic… it is rooted in a desire for independence and dignity. No one has the right to tell the Iranian nation what it should or should not have.”
Pezeshkian Blames Foreign Powers for Deadly Unrest
Separately, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian accused US, Israeli and European leaders of exploiting Iran’s economic crisis to incite recent nationwide protests that resulted in massive casualties. Speaking on state television, Pezeshkian claimed foreign leaders “provoked, create division, and supplied resources, drawing some innocent people into this movement.”
The two-week protests, which began in late December over soaring inflation and rising living costs, ended after a bloody government crackdown. Death toll figures remain disputed – US-based rights group HRANA reports at least 6,563 deaths including 6,170 protesters and 214 security forces, while Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi told CNN Turk that 3,100 died, including 2,000 security forces.
Pezeshkian specifically named President Donald Trump, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and European leaders, saying they “rode on our problems, provoked, and were seeking – and still seek – to fragment society.” He claimed they “brought them into the streets and wanted, as they said, to tear this country apart, to sow conflict and hatred among the people.”
Regional Diplomatic Push Intensifies
As tensions mount, regional allies including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia have intensified diplomatic efforts to prevent military confrontation between Washington and Tehran. The US has built up its naval presence in the region, including positioning the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, while Trump reviews military options against Iran.
US officials indicated Trump has not decided whether to strike Iran, though he has repeatedly voiced support for protesters and threatened action if the crackdown continues. Israel’s Ynet reported a US Navy destroyer had docked at the Israeli port of Eilat, underscoring the military buildup.
What’s Next
With Iran drawing hard lines on uranium enrichment and blaming foreign interference for domestic unrest, diplomatic resolution appears increasingly challenging. The nuclear talks impasse, combined with regional military positioning and ongoing protest aftermath, suggests tensions will likely persist despite mediation efforts by Gulf allies.
