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In a big revelation, Tehran has stated that it does not have “physical control of its uranium, which is enriched to 60 per cent”. Kazem Gharibabadi, Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, added that Iran had been ready to discuss all aspects of the nuclear issue but that the United States had refused genuine negotiations and instead demanded its own terms. He insisted that it was Washington, not Iran, which sought the current ceasefire in the Middle East conflict.
According to Gharibabadi, the recent talks had focused on three main areas — Iran’s commitment to non-development of nuclear weapons, the handling of its existing stockpile, and the question of enrichment.
“Iran was ready to discuss all issues, but this needs negotiation. The US refuses negotiations. US only want their terms,” Gharibabadi said.
Within those discussions, the sides had addressed the possible transfer of Iranian enriched uranium, the dilution of its enrichment levels, and the conversion of material into fuel rods. Specifically, the US demanded that uranium enriched to 60 per cent be transferred to the United States and nowhere else. Washington also called for Iran to suspend enrichment activities for 20 years, a demand Tehran rejected outright.
“We cannot deprive our nation,” the minister said. Gharibabadi is a key part of Iran’s negotiation team which engaged in talks with the United States, including the recent consultations in Islamabad.
He questioned the logic of transferring material to the US, asking, “Transferring to the United States – why?”
“The US waged a war, could not achieve its goals and is now looking for concessions from Iran,” he said. He described the American approach as “dictation, not negotiation”.
The Iranian minister also disclosed that Iran does not presently have physical control over its uranium enriched to 60 per cent. That material lies underground in facilities that have been bombed.
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