Iran is willing to resolve outstanding disputes over its nuclear program but won’t succumb to pressure, its foreign minister told the UN nuclear watchdog head, as European countries push for diplomacy before Donald Trump’s return to the White House.
“The ball is in the EU/E3 court,” Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi wrote on X following talks in Tehran with IAEA chief Rafael Grossi, referring to three European countries – France, Britain, and Germany – which represent the West alongside the United States at nuclear talks.
“Willing to negotiate based on our national interest and inalienable rights, but not ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidation,” Iranian state media quoted Araqchi as saying. “I hope the other side will adopt a rational policy.”
A senior Iranian official told Tehran would send a message to the three European powers through Grossi about Tehran’s seriousness in resolving its nuclear standoff, while stressing that any pressure on Tehran would have the opposite effect.
Diplomats told Reuters on Wednesday that Britain, France and Germany are pushing for a new resolution against Iran by the International Atomic Energy Agency board next week to pressure Tehran over what they view as its poor cooperation.
Grossi, in a televised joint press conference with Iran’s nuclear chief, urged Tehran to take steps to resolve the remaining issues.
“It is in our power here to take concrete steps that will indicate, to the US and the international community, that we can clarify things and move forward with concrete solutions,” Grossi said.
Grossi met Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian for the first time since Pezeshkian was elected in July. The president told Grossi that Tehran was prepared to cooperate with the IAEA to clear up “alleged ambiguities” about Tehran’s nuclear work, state media reported.
Trump’s return to office as US president in January upends nuclear diplomacy with Iran, which had stalled under the outgoing administration of Joe Biden after months of indirect talks.
