Iraqi: Iran is Negotiating to Build 'Trust' in Nuclear File

Iran's foreign minister states that Tehran is engaged in separate discussions with China, Russia, and three European countries to explore ways to create 'trust and transparency' regarding its nuclear program. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry indicated that Tehran might be willing to accept limitations on its nuclear program in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Abbas Araghchi, Iran's foreign minister, wrote on Sunday evening, March 10, that discussions are currently taking place with three European countries, as well as separately with Russia and China. Just before these remarks, Iran's mission to the United Nations stated that the issue of alleviating concerns about the potential militarization of the Islamic Republic's nuclear program 'could be discussed.' In an English note published on the social media platform X, Abbas Araghchi wrote that the goal of the current talks with Europe, as well as with Russia and China, is 'to explore ways to build greater trust and transparency regarding our nuclear energy program in exchange for the lifting of illegal sanctions.' He also reiterated his previous stance that 'we will not negotiate under pressure and intimidation,' stating that whenever the U.S. has treated Iran 'respectfully,' it has received mutual respect, and whenever it has taken a threatening stance, Iran's response has been evident. Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed his determination to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons, warning that Tehran faces two options: agreement or military action. Ali Khamenei, the leader of the Islamic Republic, has rejected the proposal for negotiations with the U.S. In his note, Abbas Araghchi also stated that 'Iran's nuclear energy program has always been peaceful and will remain so,' and 'there is no such thing as its potential militarization.' These statements come as the International Atomic Energy Agency has repeatedly emphasized that the investigation into the discovery of uranium traces at undeclared sites and the issue of 'potential military dimensions' of Iran's nuclear activities remain unresolved. The agency has also warned about the levels of enriched uranium reserves and enrichment levels in Iran, which have no precedent in any non-nuclear weapon state. A few days ago, France, Germany, and the UK issued a joint statement referring to the latest IAEA report, stating that there has been no improvement in Tehran's cooperation with the agency, and the scope of Iran's enrichment activities for a country that does not possess nuclear weapons is 'unprecedented and unjustified.' Just hours before Abbas Araghchi's remarks, Iran's mission to the UN stated: 'If the purpose of the negotiations is to alleviate concerns about the potential militarization of Iran's nuclear program, it is open to discussion.' The Kremlin announced on Monday that Russia had not consulted with Tehran before or after Iran's response to Trump's letter regarding nuclear negotiations and emphasized that Iran independently determines its policies. These remarks came after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reiterated that Tehran would not yield to pressure in negotiations. This positioning occurred a day after Trump announced he had sent a letter inviting Iran to negotiate a new nuclear agreement. Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, responded to a question about possible coordination between Moscow and Tehran in this regard, saying: 'No. Iran is an independent country and determines its positions on key foreign policy issues.' Trump had previously threatened to resume the 'maximum pressure' policy against Iran to prevent Tehran from acquiring nuclear weapons, although he simultaneously expressed his willingness for a new agreement. Peskov stated regarding the possibility of new nuclear negotiations that 'Iran is seeking negotiations based on mutual respect and constructive dialogue.' He also added that Russia would continue its efforts to advance the peaceful resolution of Iran's nuclear file. Since the onset of the Ukraine war, Russia and Iran have strengthened their relations, with Tehran playing a significant role in this cooperation by supplying drones to Moscow. Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry mentioned the possibility of Tehran being ready to accept limitations on its nuclear activities in exchange for the lifting of sanctions. Maria Zakharova, in a written interview with the Israeli newspaper Haaretz, stated that Moscow 'does not rule out the possibility that Iran may agree to limit its nuclear program and increase transparency in exchange for the lifting of Western sanctions.' She also referred to the previous nuclear agreement between Iran and world powers, known as the JCPOA, stating that a 'similar approach' could be 'useful for stabilizing the current situation.' In recent days, there have been speculations about Moscow's efforts to mediate between Tehran and Washington to resolve the Islamic Republic's nuclear file, and officials from both Russia and the U.S. have confirmed some of the reports. Zakharova, in response to a question about whether Moscow would use its influence over Iran on the nuclear issue, said: 'We are ready for the closest cooperation with Tehran and other involved parties to find de-escalation and durable solutions that lead to an effective and sustainable agreement.'