Iran’s Khamenei Doubts U.S. Nuclear Talks as Tensions Over Uranium Enrichment Persist

Iran’s Khamenei Doubts U.S. Nuclear Talks as Tensions Over Uranium Enrichment Persist

Last Updated May - 21 - 2025, 01:16 PM | Source : Fela News

Amid stalled nuclear negotiations, Iran’s supreme leader calls U.S. demands on uranium enrichment a “big mistake,” while Washington maintains a strict stance. T

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, expressed skepticism on Tuesday (May 20, 2025) about the prospects of nuclear talks with the United States, saying they were unlikely to produce any results amid ongoing tensions over Iran’s uranium enrichment. He called denying Iran’s right to enrich uranium “a big mistake.” Since April 12, Iran and the U.S. have held four rounds of indirect, Oman-mediated nuclear negotiations—the highest level of contact since the U.S. withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal. Both sides agreed to continue talks after their last meeting on May 11, which Iran described as “difficult but useful,” while a U.S. official said Washington felt “encouraged.”

At a Senate hearing, U.S. diplomat Marco Rubio expressed hope for an agreement with Iran but noted Iran’s desire to maintain its enrichment program as a source of national pride and deterrence. Iran currently enriches uranium to 60%, far exceeding the 3.67% cap set by the 2015 deal, approaching weapons-grade levels. Western nations accuse Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, though Iran insists its program is peaceful. Iran has consistently stated that its uranium enrichment is “non-negotiable,” a position U.S. negotiator Steve Witkoff calls a “red line.”

Witkoff reiterated that the U.S. will not permit any enrichment capability, while Khamenei dismissed U.S. statements as “nonsense.” Iran’s lead negotiator Abbas Araghchi said enrichment would continue with or without a deal and urged serious talks to ensure Iran never acquires nuclear weapons. Iranian diplomats showed some willingness to accept temporary limits on enrichment levels.

Since returning to office in January, U.S. President Donald Trump has pursued a “maximum pressure” policy on Iran, combining diplomatic engagement with threats of military action and sanctions, especially targeting Iran’s oil exports. Trump warned that failure to reach a deal could lead to “massive maximum pressure” and that “something bad is going to happen” if Iran does not act quickly.

Iranian officials criticized U.S. officials for contradictory positions and ongoing sanctions, which have disrupted negotiations. Araghchi noted inconsistencies between U.S. public and private statements, leading to delays in scheduling the next talks. Iran recently held separate discussions with Britain, France, and Germany, all parties to the 2015 deal, who are considering reimposing U.N. sanctions due to Iran’s non-compliance. The option to trigger sanctions expires in October.

Araghchi expressed Iran’s willingness to “begin a new chapter” with Europe and urged European involvement in the negotiations.

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