For years, Western powers have charged Iran with chasing the bomb, but Tehran insists its nuclear ambition is rooted in peaceful civilian intent alone
News Desk
TEHRAN: Iran has indicated it may consider permitting US inspectors to visit its nuclear facilities if a deal is reached with Washington. According to an AFP report, the head of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization, Mohammad Eslami, said on Wednesday that while inspectors from countries hostile to Iran have never been acceptable, Tehran could rethink allowing American inspectors under the supervision of the UN’s nuclear watchdog, provided Iran’s demands are met.
For years, Western powers have accused Iran of seeking nuclear weapons, a claim Tehran has consistently denied, insisting its nuclear program is solely for peaceful, civilian purposes. Recent weeks have seen five rounds of high-level talks between Tehran and Washington — the first significant contacts since the US withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal under Donald Trump in 2018.
Since taking office in January, Trump has resumed his “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran, imposing new sanctions. Meanwhile, Iranian foreign ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghai confirmed that consultations are underway to finalize the time and place for the next round of talks, with an official announcement expected from Oman. Iranian president Masoud Pezeshkian expressed gratitude for the Gulf state’s mediation efforts, despite longstanding tensions between Tehran and Muscat.
Iranian officials have repeatedly emphasized that uranium enrichment is a “non-negotiable” issue, a stance publicly backed by US negotiators including Washington’s envoy Steve Wittkoff, who has described it as a red line. Mohammad Eslami added that enrichment levels have not been discussed in recent talks and should not be politicized, pointing out that higher enrichment does not necessarily imply military use.
Baghai reiterated that continued uranium enrichment is a fundamental part of Iran’s nuclear industry and any proposal threatening this right is unacceptable. Currently, Iran enriches uranium up to 60 percent — far above the 3.67 percent limit set in the 2015 agreement but below the 90 percent threshold typically required for nuclear weapons.
European parties to the 2015 deal — France, Germany and the UK — are reportedly considering triggering the deal’s “snapback” mechanism, which would reinstate UN sanctions if Iran is found in violation. The evolving diplomatic dialogue highlights the delicate balancing act between upholding Iran’s stated sovereignty and addressing global concerns over nuclear proliferation.
