Iran has declared it will reject any nuclear agreement that restricts its “peaceful activities”, particularly uranium enrichment, while urging the United States to lift crippling sanctions as a condition for any new deal.
Speaking in Cairo on Monday after meeting UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi stressed that Tehran would not agree to any arrangement that deprives it of what it considers legitimate civil nuclear rights.
“If the goal is to deprive Iran of its peaceful activities, then certainly no agreement will be reached,” Araghchi said. “Iran has a peaceful nuclear programme… and we are prepared to provide this assurance to any party or entity. We have nothing to hide.”
His remarks came amid rising tensions following a leaked International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) report indicating that Iran had increased production of uranium enriched to 60% purity—dangerously close to the 90% threshold required for nuclear weapons.
Grossi, who also met Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, called for greater transparency from Iran. “There is a need for more transparency—this is very, very clear,” he said. “Only full explanations of a number of activities will bring confidence.”
While the IAEA insisted on its impartiality, Grossi acknowledged that “some of the report’s findings may be uncomfortable” and expected to be criticised.
Tehran dismissed the report, accusing certain countries of using the IAEA to provoke conflict. “Some countries are trying to abuse this agency to pave the way for escalation with Iran. I hope that this agency does not fall into this trap,” Araghchi warned.
Iran is also demanding guarantees from the US that sanctions imposed under former President Donald Trump will be lifted. Foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei reiterated on Monday that “we want to guarantee that the sanctions are effectively lifted,” but said Washington had yet to provide clear assurances.
The two nations have held five rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Oman, in an effort to restore a nuclear accord following the US withdrawal from the 2015 agreement under Trump in 2018.
While Iran insists its enrichment is for civilian purposes, US officials remain firmly opposed. “An enrichment programme can never exist in the state of Iran ever again. That’s our red line,” said US envoy Steve Witkoff last month.
Despite the standoff, Iran has maintained it will continue its nuclear activities regardless of whether a deal is reached. “We will enrich with or without a deal,” a senior Iranian official said.
Meanwhile, Egyptian President al-Sisi voiced concern over the deteriorating situation, calling for de-escalation and renewed diplomatic efforts. “The region is already experiencing enough problems and crises,” he said. His foreign minister, Badr Abdelatty, warned that a military confrontation would create “a state of chaos from which no one will be spared.”
The New York Times reported that the US has presented Iran with a new proposal, calling for an end to enrichment and the establishment of a regional consortium to oversee nuclear energy production. The White House described the offer as “acceptable” and “in Iran’s best interest”.