Daijiworld Media Network - Tehran
Tehran, May 12: Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi announced that indirect negotiations with the United States over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal have become “more serious and frank,” as Iran reaffirmed its firm stance against dismantling its nuclear infrastructure.
The discussions, held in Muscat and mediated by Oman, represent a renewed attempt to rescue the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark nuclear agreement that the U.S. exited in 2018 under then-President Donald Trump. Following the withdrawal, Iran gradually scaled back its compliance with the deal’s provisions, sparking tensions with the West.
Speaking after the fourth round of talks, Araqchi told Iran’s state broadcaster IRIB TV that the negotiations had moved beyond preliminary discussions and now centered on concrete proposals. He described the talks as “progressive” but admitted that the issues were becoming increasingly complex and technical. Both sides have agreed to continue the dialogue in future sessions.
The latest meeting lasted approximately three hours and followed earlier rounds held in Muscat on April 12 and 26, and in Rome on April 19.
In a parallel development, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian strongly rejected American demands to dismantle key nuclear facilities at Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan, calling such expectations “unacceptable.” He reaffirmed Iran’s position that its nuclear program is strictly for peaceful purposes, citing a religious decree by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei that bans the development of nuclear weapons.
Ahead of the Muscat meeting, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff reiterated Washington’s call for Iran to dismantle its entire nuclear infrastructure and suggested that Tehran should import enriched uranium instead of producing it domestically. This stance was echoed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who emphasized stricter controls on Iran’s nuclear capacity.
In response, President Pezeshkian emphasized Iran’s right to nuclear technology for civilian uses such as healthcare, radiopharmaceuticals, agriculture, and industrial development. “We negotiate because we seek peace—not surrender,” he said. “Our commitment is to regional stability and scientific progress.”
As diplomacy continues, the world watches closely to see whether these intensified backchannel negotiations will yield a breakthrough—or deepen an already volatile impasse.