The United States and Iran exchanged sharp remarks at the United Nations Security Council on Tuesday over the future of nuclear talks, with Washington saying it remains open to negotiations and Tehran rejecting US conditions as unfair.
The two sides had held five rounds of nuclear talks before a 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June, during which the United States joined Israel in striking Iranian nuclear facilities. Those talks stalled mainly over the issue of uranium enrichment inside Iran.
Western powers want Iran to stop enriching uranium on its own soil, arguing it reduces the risk of nuclear weapons development. Iran has repeatedly rejected this demand, saying enrichment is its legal right.
Speaking at the Security Council, US Deputy Middle East Envoy Morgan Ortagus said Washington is still ready for direct talks with Tehran, but only under specific conditions. She said the United States is open to “direct and meaningful dialogue” if Iran is willing, adding that there can be no uranium enrichment inside Iran under any future agreement.
Iran’s UN Ambassador Amir Saeid Iravani strongly pushed back, saying the US position proves it is not seeking fair negotiations. He said demanding zero enrichment violates Iran’s rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
He told the council that Iran supports meaningful and fair negotiations but will not accept pressure or intimidation. He added that Iran would not bow to demands that ignore its legal rights as a treaty member.
Tensions have increased since the United Nations reinstated an arms embargo and other sanctions on Iran in late September through a mechanism known as snapback. The move was triggered by Britain, France, and Germany, who accused Iran of violating the 2015 nuclear deal.
Russia and China opposed the snapback decision and argued that the sanctions were no longer valid. They also objected to Tuesday’s Security Council meeting, claiming all provisions of the 2015 resolution expired on October 18. Despite their objections, the meeting went ahead.
Iran continues to deny that it is seeking nuclear weapons and insists its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
The 2015 nuclear agreement, which aimed to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb, is backed by a UN Security Council resolution. Since then, the council has held regular meetings to review its implementation.
Tuesday’s briefing was requested by several countries, including Britain, France, the United States, Denmark, Greece, Slovenia, and South Korea, highlighting ongoing international divisions over how to handle Iran’s nuclear program.
