Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said that nuclear talks with the United States were unlikely to yield any results, amid a diplomatic standoff over the Islamic Republic’s enrichment activities.
“We don’t think it will lead to any outcome. We don’t know what will happen,” said Khamenei during a speech, adding that denying Iran’s right to enrich uranium was “a big mistake.”
Iran and the United States have held four rounds of Omani-mediated nuclear talks since April 12, the highest-level contact between the two foes since Washington abandoned the 2015 nuclear accord.
They had confirmed plans to hold another round of discussions during their last meeting on May 11, which Iran described as “difficult but useful,” while a US official said Washington was “encouraged.”
On Sunday, Witkoff reiterated that the United States “cannot allow even one percent of an enrichment capability.”
“The American side involved in these indirect negotiations should refrain from speaking nonsense,” said Khamenei.
Earlier, Iran’s Foreign Minister and lead negotiator Abbas Araghchi said, “enrichment in Iran … will continue with or without a deal.”
Iranian diplomats have said Tehran would be open to temporary restrictions on how much uranium it enriches and to what level.
Iran currently enriches uranium to 60 percent, far above the 3.67-percent limit set in the 2015 deal but below the 90 percent needed for a nuclear warhead.
