The Media Line: Iran Refuses Nuclear Compromise, Keeps Door Open to US Talks 

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Iran Refuses Nuclear Compromise, Keeps Door Open to US Talks 

By The Media Line Staff 

Iran has reaffirmed its commitment to nuclear enrichment for civilian purposes while expressing cautious interest in renewed dialogue with the United States. The latest signal came Tuesday during a meeting between Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and New Zealand’s new ambassador to Tehran, where the nuclear issue was part of a broader discussion on foreign relations. 

This comes after five rounds of indirect US-Iran talks, mediated by Oman, focusing on Iran’s enrichment activity and the possible easing of American sanctions. Although Tehran has expressed a willingness to continue talks, officials insist Iran will not compromise on what it calls its “nuclear rights.” 

“Iran does not seek nuclear weapons,” government officials have said repeatedly, maintaining that enrichment is essential for domestic energy and medical use. Yet tensions persist over the scope and transparency of the program. 

Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, rejected a US-backed proposal for a new nuclear deal that would allow for continued low-level enrichment while freezing development of advanced centrifuges. Tehran also ruled out moving enrichment operations abroad, citing sovereignty concerns. 

Complicating matters further, the International Atomic Energy Agency has reported a significant increase in Iran’s enriched uranium stockpile, according to a confidential UN document. The report has raised international alarm about Iran’s proximity to weapons-grade capability, though Iran maintains its program is peaceful. 

Despite a shared interest in dialogue, stark divisions remain, especially over the terms and limits of enrichment. As negotiations inch forward, the nuclear standoff between Washington and Tehran continues to test diplomacy.