Iran rejects offer of direct US negotiations over rapidly growing nuclear program

Iran’s President Rejects Direct Negotiations with the US Over Nuclear Program

In a recent development, Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that Iran has rejected direct negotiations with the United States concerning its rapidly advancing nuclear program. This decision comes in response to a letter sent by President Trump to Iran’s supreme leader. The response was delivered via the sultanate of Oman, leaving open the possibility of indirect negotiations with Washington. However, talks have not progressed since Trump unilaterally withdrew America from the nuclear deal with world powers in 2018.

Tensions in the region have escalated, with attacks at sea and on land, as well as the recent Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip. The U.S. is currently conducting intense airstrikes targeting the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, raising concerns about potential military action against Iran’s nuclear program.

President Pezeshkian emphasized the importance of trust-building in any future negotiations, highlighting the need for the U.S. to prove its commitment to honoring agreements. The White House has not yet responded to Iran’s announcement.

Both Israel and the United States have made it clear that they will not allow Iran to acquire a nuclear weapon, heightening the risk of a military confrontation. While Iran insists that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, there are growing concerns about its enrichment of uranium at near weapons-grade levels.

In a report by the U.N.’s nuclear watchdog in February, it was revealed that Iran has accelerated its production of near weapons-grade uranium. This has raised further alarm about the country’s nuclear ambitions. President Trump’s administration has been consistent in its stance that Iran must be prevented from obtaining nuclear weapons.

It is worth noting that President Trump ordered the drone strike that killed Iran’s top general in Baghdad in January 2020, further escalating tensions between the two countries. The situation remains delicate, with the possibility of military action still looming over the negotiations regarding Iran’s nuclear program.