Why it matters:
Ahmadian’s comments push back on claims that Tehran is deliberately dragging out nuclear talks. Instead, he signals Iran’s willingness to reach a deal if the U.S. negotiates in good faith.
The big picture:
So far, five rounds of indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks have been held with Oman mediating. Despite Iran’s rights under the JCPOA and the NPT to enrich uranium, the U.S. continues to demand concessions on enrichment, stalling momentum. Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful and under IAEA oversight.
What he's saying:
"If the Americans act seriously and don’t renege on their commitments,or change their stance every time, we can make real progress," Ahmadian said on the sidelines of the Moscow International Security Conference.
Key points:
- Ahmadian is attending the 13th Moscow security summit, emphasizing nuclear diplomacy.
- The fifth round of indirect U.S.-Iran talks was held on May 22 in Rome, mediated by Oman.
- Iran asserts its legal right to enrich uranium under international agreements.
- Tehran has faced 25% of all IAEA global inspections, despite its nuclear capacity being under 3% of the worldwide total.
Go deeper:
Iran maintains that it has honored the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and allows for unprecedented international scrutiny.
Atomic Energy Organization chief Mohammad Eslami notes Iran undergoes more than 12 times the global average number of inspections, yet remains under pressure to scale back its program.
Hossein Vaez
