Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Tuesday that negotiations with the United States would not serve Tehran’s interests and would prove a “dead-end”.
In a recorded message, Khamenei also said Iran would not “surrender to pressure” regarding uranium enrichment, and he reiterated Tehran’s long-standing official position that it does not need nuclear weapons and has no intention of producing them.
Iran and European powers are engaged in last-ditch talks to prevent the revival of U.N. sanctions on Tehran, two senior Iranian officials and two Western diplomats told Reuters on Monday, though all warned the chances of success remain slim.
The sources said foreign ministers of Iran, Britain, France, and Germany will meet on Tuesday on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly to discuss Iran’s disputed nuclear ambitions amid looming threats of sanctions.
Britain, France, and Germany, known as the E3, launched a 30-day process on August 28 to reimpose U.N. sanctions, accusing Tehran of failing to abide by a 2015 deal with world powers aimed at preventing it from developing a nuclear weapon.
Tehran has long said its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes.
“Iran has been in contact with E3/EU officials and (the U.N. nuclear chief Rafael) Grossi since this morning at the U.N. Different ideas have been raised and discussed,” a senior Iranian official said.“Iranian top diplomat will meet with the E3 foreign ministers and EU foreign policy chief (Kaja) Kallas tomorrow and will continue the discussions.”
Another senior Iranian official said, “Everyone seems to be trying to resolve the nuclear dispute. Two European diplomats confirmed the meeting on Tuesday.
On Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi called on the European powers to choose “cooperation or confrontation”.
“They have tested Iran repeatedly and know we do not respond to the language of pressure and threat … I hope we can find a diplomatic solution in the coming days, otherwise Tehran will take appropriate measures,” Araqchi told state TV.
The European powers have offered to delay reinstating sanctions for up to six months - to allow space for talks on a long-term deal on Tehran’s nuclear programme - if Iran restores access for U.N. nuclear inspectors, addresses concerns about its stock of enriched uranium, and engages in talks with the United States.
