Wed Apr 16 19:53:00 UTC 2025: ## Iran Rejects US Demand to Halt Uranium Enrichment Amidst Ongoing Nuclear Talks

**Tehran, April 17, 2025** – Iran has firmly rejected a US demand to halt its uranium enrichment program, stating that the activity is non-negotiable. This declaration comes from Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, following a call from US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff for a cessation of enrichment.

Araghchi, speaking after a cabinet meeting, asserted that Iran’s uranium enrichment is a “real, accepted matter,” while expressing willingness to build confidence regarding international concerns. However, he emphasized that halting enrichment is not on the table.

These statements follow a recent meeting between Araghchi and Witkoff in Oman, the highest-level talks between the two nations since the US withdrawal from the 2015 nuclear deal. While both sides described the meeting as constructive, subsequent disagreements have emerged.

Witkoff’s call for a complete halt to enrichment marks a tougher stance than his previous demand for a return to the 3.67 percent enrichment limit stipulated in the 2015 accord. Araghchi criticized the US administration’s “contradictory and conflicting positions,” expressing concern about the impact on upcoming negotiations scheduled for Saturday.

Further complicating matters, President Trump’s re-imposed sanctions and March letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (urging talks but threatening military action if negotiations fail), have created uncertainty. Khamenei himself has acknowledged the potential for the talks to be fruitless, despite positive initial progress.

Iran has stressed that its military capabilities, regional influence, and missile program are off-limits in negotiations. The IAEA, tasked with overseeing Iran’s compliance with the 2015 deal, recently reported that Iran possesses approximately 274.8 kilograms of uranium enriched to up to 60 percent – exceeding the 2015 limit, but still below weapons-grade levels.

Araghchi is slated to travel to Russia on Thursday to deliver a message from the Supreme Leader to President Putin, highlighting continued engagement with Russia and China – both signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal. Despite the challenges, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian expressed hope for a successful outcome in the ongoing US-Iran negotiations. The international community awaits the results of Saturday’s talks with bated breath.

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