Tehran on Tuesday denied having received formal conditions from the U.S. for renewing nuclear negotiations after reports last week suggested that Washington detailed four requirements to Iranian officials.
Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani told reporters that until the conditions arrive, “they cannot be seriously reviewed.”
The Washington Post last week reported that the White House sent Iran four prerequisites that Tehran would need to accomplish before further nuclear talks could take place: end uranium enrichment, agree to direct talks, curb its missile program and halt funding for all foreign armed groups.
Additionally, reporting suggests that Washington planned to use the pressure resulting from the recently imposed U.N. snapback sanctions to create a fertile environment for renewed negotiations.
The E3 nations of France, Germany and the U.K. triggered the snapback mechanism of the 2015 Iran deal late last month, reimposing U.N.-backed sanctions on Iran. The punishment will likely put further economic pressure on Tehran as it continues to rebuild following its devastating June war with Israel.
The U.S. and Iran held five rounds of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program this year. During those talks, Washington insisted that Tehran halt all uranium enrichment, a point rejected by Iran, which believes it has a right to enrichment and says it’s not seeking a nuclear weapon.
Those talks were interrupted in June when Israel bombed Iran’s enrichment facilities while killing military leaders and nuclear scientists.
The U.S. entered the conflict shortly after, destroying Iran’s largest enrichment sites.
Relations between Tehran and Washington have been sour ever since, despite calls from the international community for both sides to negotiate.
• Vaughn Cockayne can be reached at vcockayne@washingtontimes.com.
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