Iran refuses to abandon uranium enrichment rights

Iran has rejected US demands for major restrictions on its uranium enrichment programme, insisting that its right to enrich uranium is non-negotiable.

A senior Iranian official said Tehran was willing to discuss the details and limits of enrichment at a later stage, but Washington must first recognise Iran’s right to carry out enrichment.

The official said Iran and the United States had not yet held direct negotiations on the nuclear issue. According to the official, Tehran has set conditions that must be addressed before substantive discussions can begin.

The comments came after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Vice President JD Vance outlined Washington’s expectations for any future nuclear agreement with Iran.

Rubio said Iran had failed to use several opportunities to reach an agreement with the United States. Speaking during a visit to Greece, he also claimed that Tehran had lost much of its control over the Strait of Hormuz.

Rubio said oil shipments through the strategic waterway had largely resumed despite the ongoing conflict. He also described Iran’s economy as being under severe pressure.

Vance said Washington would seek a significant reduction in Iran’s uranium enrichment capabilities as part of any agreement to end the conflict. He argued that Iran would need to take concrete steps to demonstrate that it did not intend to develop nuclear weapons.

Iran, however, has repeatedly maintained that its nuclear programme is peaceful and that uranium enrichment is among its sovereign rights.

The United States and Iran have exchanged proposals in recent weeks aimed at ending the conflict and restoring normal shipping through the Strait of Hormuz, a key route for global energy supplies. Previous efforts to reach a settlement have failed to produce a lasting agreement.

Vance also acknowledged uncertainty in Washington over Iran’s internal decision-making process. He said US officials were communicating with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi but questioned how much authority they hold within Iran’s political structure.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei rejected that assessment, saying US officials understand Iran’s political system. He argued that contradictory statements from Washington were creating confusion over the negotiations.

Vance said the United States remained involved in efforts to find a settlement, while stressing that President Donald Trump would ultimately make the final decisions on US policy.

The prolonged conflict has also created economic and political pressure in the United States, with rising energy prices becoming an important issue ahead of the November midterm elections.