Iran denies US contact on reviving nuclear talks
The IAEA chief recently confirmed Iran 'is not and was not' developing nuclear weapons
Iranian news agency Tasnim, on 1 November, cited an informed source denying claims that the US sent a message to Iran via the Sultanate of Oman, saying, “These reports are incorrect.”
The claim originated from Baghdad Today, which alleged that Washington sent a message to Tehran via Muscat regarding the possible resumption of nuclear negotiations suspended since June.
“Iran is ready for dialogue on its nuclear program, but Washington’s conditions are unacceptable,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi declared on Saturday, confirming that the Islamic Republic "will not accept disarmament.”
“Progress can be made through indirect negotiations, not direct talks with the US,” he added.
Iranian officials have repeatedly affirmed Tehran’s commitment to diplomatic engagement but maintain that any talks with predetermined outcomes or unilateral terms are “wholly rejected.”
Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi said during a press conference in Oman that the US “does not show readiness to negotiate on the basis of equality,” leaving Tehran with “no justification for continuing talks under the current circumstances.”
The reports come days after the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, said in New York that Iran “is not and was not” developing nuclear weapons.
“I want to be very clear on this,” he told reporters at the UN headquarters on Wednesday. “We are often misquoted about this, and people say that we have said things we never said.”
Grossi said cooperation between Tehran and the IAEA has varied in recent months but confirmed that Iran remains committed to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“I have told our Iranian counterparts repeatedly that reducing cooperation is not the right response,” he said, adding that Iran has made clear it will not withdraw from the treaty.
He also noted that the IAEA resumed inspections following an agreement reached in Cairo under Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, calling the arrangement “not perfect but … working.”
Asked about Israeli and US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites during the June war, Grossi said the damage to three facilities was “very considerable” and had set back Iran’s nuclear program.