The American leader has said there will be no agreement between Washington and Tehran unless Iran gives up any intention of developing nuclear weapons, hardening the US position amid ongoing but fragile diplomatic contacts between the two countries.
Ultimatum over Iran nuclear programme
US President Donald Trump has declared that a deal with Iran is off the table unless Tehran abandons its nuclear ambitions entirely.
“First of all, if they don’t do that — if they don’t give up the idea of having nuclear weapons — then there will be no deal. Fine, there will be no deal,” Trump said in an interview with US media on Wednesday. “The whole thing essentially comes down to no nuclear weapons. They cannot have nuclear weapons.”
Washington has long demanded that Iran forgo any prospect of developing nuclear weapons. Trump has previously claimed that Tehran is unwilling to abandon its nuclear programme, even though it is more eager to reach a deal than the US due to fears of potential military strikes.
Tehran insists on right to peaceful nuclear energy
Iran, however, continues to insist on its right to enrich uranium. The country says it is not seeking nuclear weapons, but maintains that it is entitled to pursue peaceful nuclear energy.
President Masoud Pezeshkian has argued that Iran must retain its nuclear rights. “We have the right to use nuclear energy and to carry out research that benefits our society, and no one is entitled to deprive us of that right,” he said.
Iran’s foreign ministry has also reiterated that Tehran remains committed to its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), and has maintained that nuclear weapons have no place in the Middle East.
Talks falter amid disagreement over enrichment and sanctions
The US position that Iran must abandon both nuclear weapons development and enrichment capabilities remains a central condition in negotiations. Trump previously suggested that Tehran had agreed to such terms, though talks later collapsed.
According to reports from the Iranian news agency Fars News Agency, a round of negotiations in Islamabad broke down after Iran rejected US conditions relating to the Strait of Hormuz and its nuclear programme. Axios has also reported that Tehran is unwilling to relinquish its stockpile of enriched uranium.
Despite the setback, the possibility of a new round of talks remains under discussion. Trump said on Tuesday that another meeting could take place within the next two days, also in Pakistan.
