Washington and Tehran on the brink of new nuclear negotiations.. Iran refuses to give up enrichment
US Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, announced the resumption of nuclear talks with Iran "soon," during an interview with Fox News on Sunday, July 27. He confirmed that both parties are seeking to renew discussions after a long hiatus.
On the other hand, the Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed indirect contacts between Tehran and Washington through intermediary countries, including Oman. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs, said in statements carried by Mehr News Agency: "Some countries are in touch with Iran and the United States. As you know, we were negotiating through Oman as a mediator."
Takht-Ravanchi added in an interview with Turkish channel Haber Turk: "Communications are exchanged between Iran and the United States through some intermediary countries... In talks in Istanbul with the European Troika, we affirmed that uranium enrichment in Iran is an integral part of any agreement."
The Iranian official emphasized that any future agreement must include uranium enrichment within Iran and the lifting of sanctions, refusing to disclose the date or location of the next round of negotiations. In a related context, an Iranian website close to the National Security Council reported that talks between Iran and the European Troika will take place in Istanbul in the next ten days.
Iranian statements rejecting US policies have escalated, as Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei for international affairs, accused the United States of seeking to cut off Iranian communication with the Caucasus region and Russia. In an official message, he affirmed that Iran's national security is a "red line," indicating Tehran's readiness to respond through "effective deterrence policy," which may include military maneuvers or deployments.
