SpaceWar.com - Your World At War
Iran FM says has 'serious doubts' over US intentions ahead of talks
Moscow, April 18 (AFP) Apr 18, 2025
Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday cast doubt over the intentions of the United States a day before a second round of nuclear talks with Washington.

The new round will come a week after the longtime foes held their highest-level negotiations since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark nuclear deal in 2018.

"Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations," Araghchi said during a press conference in Moscow with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Araghchi will set off on Saturday for Rome for a fresh round of Omani-mediated talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

"We are fully prepared to pursue a peaceful resolution for Iran's peaceful nuclear programme," Araghchi said.

Lavrov said Moscow was ready "to play any role that will be useful from Iran's point of view and that will be acceptable to the United States."

Russia, which commands the world's largest confirmed arsenal of nuclear weapons, has deepened its military ties with Iran since it launched its offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.

Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the country's military capabilities were off limits in the discussions.

The official IRNA news agency reported Iran's regional influence and its missile capabilities -- long criticised by Western governments -- were among its "red lines" in the talks.

On Wednesday, the Iranian foreign minister said Iran's enrichment of uranium was not up for discussion, after Witkoff called for it to end.

"If there is similar willingness on the other side, and they refrain from making unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement is likely," Araghchi said during the press conference.

Lavrov emphasised that any potential agreement should only pertain to the nuclear issue.

"This is a fundamental point that must be taken into account by those who try to burden the negotiations with non-nuclear issues and thus create a very risky situation," he said.

Israel on Friday reiterated its unwavering commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons, saying it had a "clear course of action" to prevent this.

"Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and I, along with all relevant bodies, are committed to leading a clear course of action that will prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons," said Defence Minister Israel Katz.


ADVERTISEMENT




Space News from SpaceDaily.com
China launches space probe seeking asteroid samples: Xinhua
Kymeta and Eutelsat OneWeb deploy dual-orbit SATCOM terminal to support defense networks
The hunt for mysterious 'Planet Nine' offers up a surprise

24/7 Energy News Coverage
Photon control breakthrough at ultra-low temperatures advances quantum technology
New gravity test using 3D velocities of wide binaries backs modified Newtonian dynamics
EU adopts CO2 targets reprieve for car industry

Military Space News, Nuclear Weapons, Missile Defense
Trump says warned Netanyahu against striking Iran
Iran says may allow US inspectors from nuclear watchdog if deal reached
Merz says Germany, Ukraine to jointly produce long-range weapons

24/7 News Coverage
Synthetic rings imitate plant energy systems with molecular precision
EU and six member states ratify UN treaty on high seas
India's monsoon lashes Mumbai as rains arrive early



All rights reserved. Copyright Agence France-Presse. Sections of the information displayed on this page (dispatches, photographs, logos) are protected by intellectual property rights owned by Agence France-Presse. As a consequence, you may not copy, reproduce, modify, transmit, publish, display or in any way commercially exploit any of the content of this section without the prior written consent of Agence France-Presse.