Iran has indicated readiness to accept restrictions on its nuclear activities, including limits on uranium enrichment, if international sanctions are lifted, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in The Guardian on Sunday.
“Iran is prepared to forge a realistic and lasting bargain that ensures strict oversight and curbs on enrichment in exchange for the termination of sanctions,” Araghchi stated, warning that ignoring this “fleeting window of opportunity” could have destructive consequences for the region and beyond.
The message was directed at the E3 nations — France, Germany, and the UK — currently engaged in talks with Tehran over its nuclear programme.
Last month, the E3 triggered the UN’s “snapback” mechanism, citing Iran’s failure to uphold commitments made under the 2015 nuclear deal. The move set a one-month deadline for negotiations before sanctions are reinstated.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas met Araghchi on Thursday in an effort to find a “negotiated solution” to the standoff.
The 2015 agreement, reached under former US president Barack Obama, granted Iran sanctions relief in return for scaling back nuclear activities. However, the deal unraveled when Donald Trump withdrew in 2018 and reimposed sweeping sanctions, including penalties on countries purchasing Iranian oil.
While Western nations accuse Tehran of pursuing nuclear weapons, Iran denies the charge, insisting its programme is strictly civilian in nature.
