The Iranian Foreign Ministry confirmed tonight (Sunday) that Iran has rejected an invitation to discuss negotiations with the United States on Washington’s return to the nuclear deal.
A brief statement from Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Said Khatibzadeh said: “Given the actions and statements of the United States and European countries, Iran does not believe it is time to hold informal talks or meetings with those countries, as proposed by the EU.”
This is the confirmation of the Wall Street Journal report that Tehran rejected an American and European invitation to talks. In Europe on the subject claiming that it requires commitments to remove the sanctions from it before official negotiations begin.
According to another diplomatic source, the United States has agreed to participate in talks that one of the EU countries has proposed to hold in the coming days. However, the United States has refused any removal of sanctions from Iran before face-to-face negotiations.
The two diplomats told the newspaper that Iran’s refusal did not kill the prospect of negotiations in the coming months, and it is very possible that Tehran’s move is an attempt to achieve better opening conditions in negotiations with the United States. Sources believe that talks may begin before the Persian New Year in March.
Meanwhile, the news network Al-Arabiya reported today that Iran has installed dozens more advanced centrifuges at the uranium enrichment facility in Purdue. Iran has not responded to reports but has previously stated that it intends to increase the rate of uranium enrichment at the facility.