Iran denies talks underway with US but softens position on uranium enrichment

Tehran denies suggestions by Trump that Iran and the US are already in talks for a new nuclear deal but hints at a possible softening of Iran’s position.

By World Israel News Staff

Iran rejected claims by President Donald Trump that Washington and Tehran have been communicating regarding the possible resumption of talks aimed at a new nuclear deal, even as the Islamic republic signaled it may be softening its position on nuclear talks.

On Tuesday, President Donald Trump spoke at a joint press conference at the White House alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, claiming that Iran is desperate to reach a new nuclear deal with the US in order to secure sanctions relief, adding that the two countries were already discussing the issue.

“Iran does want to make a deal,” Trump said. “I think they very badly want to make a deal. I am totally open to it, and we’re talking to them, and we start a process.”

A day later, however, Iran denied that any talks were underway with the US.

“There is no process of negotiation between Iran and the United States,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said.

“As the foreign minister has said many times, talking to a side that does not believe in mutual respect and takes pride in military aggression against Iran has no logical justification.”

Also on Wednesday, a top adviser to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei told CNN that Tehran is willing to engage in nuclear talks with the US, though Iran is still unwilling to consider suspending its uranium enrichment program.

Kamal Kharrazi, Khamenei’s aide, added that Iran may consider negotiations to limit the level of purity its uranium enrichment program will pursue, suggesting that the Islamic republic may agree to forgo levels beyond those needed for research and civilian power generation.

Kharrazi emphasized that Iran would not discuss its ballistic missile program.

“It is only the nuclear issue we will discuss with the United States,” he said, while expressing pessimism regarding the prospects of a diplomatic breakthrough with the Trump administration.

Trump, Kharrazi continued, “does not believe in diplomatic engagement but rather prefers to use force to achieve his objectives.”