Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Government Media Office in Gaza: So far, 7 bodies have been recovered, while two remain under the rubble, in a scene that epitomizes genocide.
Government Media Office in Gaza: 9 children from one family were killed in an Israeli massacre against the "Al-Najjar" family in Khan Yunis.
Gaza Government Media Office: Over 300 miscarriages have occurred among pregnant women due to the lack of essential nutrients.
Gaza Government Media Office: 26 kidney patients have lost their lives due to the absence of nutritional and medical care.
Gaza Government Media Office: 58 Palestinians have died due to malnutrition, and 242 due to lack of food and medicine.
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: There is a difficult path full of challenges ahead for the indirect talks
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: Defending the Resistance, the Palestinian cause, the Lebanese Resistance, and confronting Zionist crimes throughout the entire region are at the top of the Foreign Minister’s agenda
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen:Currently, both Tehran and Washington consider uranium enrichment a red line, but the Americans' red line exists only on paper, whereas our red line is inviolable under any circumstances, and the Americans fully understand this
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: Iranian FM Abbas Araghchi will not back down in the face of US pressure or its media tactics aimed at influencing the other party. They know well that he is a seasoned diplomat who will not lose his way
Ranjbaran to Al Mayadeen: "Israel" has proven that it makes decisions on behalf of the Trump administration and is using all its capabilities to sabotage these talks

Iran must 'walk away' from all uranium enrichment, Rubio says

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 2 May 2025 15:04
3 Min Read

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio says Iran must end uranium enrichment, halt missile development, and accept American nuclear inspectors.

Listen
  • x
  • Iran must 'walk away' from all uranium enrichment, Rubio says
    US Secretary of State Marco Rubio looks on upon his arrival at the Quai d'Orsay, France's Minister of Foreign Affairs, before a bilateral meeting with his French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot in Paris, Thursday, April 17, 2025. (Julien de Rosa, Pool via AP)

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday outlined a series of demands for Iran as a new round of nuclear negotiations was postponed, underscoring widening gaps between Washington and Tehran.

Rubio said Iran must end uranium enrichment, abandon its long-range missile program, and accept American inspectors at its nuclear facilities if there is to be any agreement.

“They have to walk away from sponsoring terrorists, they have to walk away from helping the Houthis in Yemen, they have to walk away from building long-range missiles that have no purpose to exist other than having nuclear weapons, and they have to walk away from enrichment,” Rubio said during an interview with Fox News.

His comments reflect persistent divisions in the ongoing diplomatic efforts to resolve long-standing concerns over Iran's nuclear program, while US President Donald Trump escalates his rhetoric around the negotiations, warning of possible military action should talks collapse.

Iran rejects pressure on enrichment and missile program

Tehran has repeatedly stated that it will not compromise on its sovereign right to enrich uranium or continue its missile development efforts, which it maintains are defensive.

Related News

US formally lifts sanctions on Syria, aiming for reconstruction

Rubio cautions Syria could be weeks away from 'full-scale civil war'

Enrichment is a key component in nuclear energy production, but higher levels can also be used to manufacture nuclear weapons.

Rubio argued that even low levels of enrichment pose a risk, "If you have the ability to enrich at 3.67%, it only takes a few weeks to get to 20%, then 60%, and then the 80 and 90% that you need for a weapon."

Iran insists its program is peaceful and compliant with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), under which it claims a legal right to enrich uranium. It has consistently denied any intention to pursue nuclear weapons.

Talks postponed amid growing diplomatic strains

On Thursday, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Thursday that a planned fourth round of nuclear talks in Rome had been postponed, citing Washington’s stance as the cause.

A new date will be considered "depending on the US approach," the official said.

The delay comes amid heightened tensions, with both sides refusing to concede on critical sticking points. While Rubio called for full access to all Iranian nuclear facilities, including military sites, Tehran historically opposed such intrusive measures, especially from American personnel.

Trump has threatened to bomb Iran if a deal is not reached, escalating concerns about potential conflict in the region. Rubio echoed this uncompromising tone by asserting that any meaningful deal must include Iran's acceptance of American inspectors and total transparency.

As diplomatic efforts stall and rhetoric intensifies, the future of the nuclear negotiations remains uncertain. With Tehran resisting the US's unilateral demands, and Washington upping its threats, the prospect for a breakthrough appears remote in the near term.

Read next: Netanyahu contradicts Trump, threatens to bomb Iran

  • Marco Rubio
  • United States
  • Tehran
  • Washington
  • Donald Trump
  • Iran

Most Read

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben-Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

YAF say struck 'Israel's' Ben Gurion Airport with missiles, drones

  • MENA
  • 18 May 2025
Rachel Accurso criticized for speaking out on Gaza children crisis

Ms. Rachel accused of antisemitism for speaking out for Gaza children

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025
Martyrs, injuries in violent Israeli bombardment of southern Gaza

Israeli operation fails; IOF launch violent strikes on Gaza

  • Politics
  • 19 May 2025
The spokesperson for the Yemeni Armed Forces, Brigadier General Yahya Saree, giving a statement on Friday, April 11, 2025 (Yemeni Military Media)

Yemeni Armed Forces declare Haifa Port under naval siege

  • Politics
  • 20 May 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Eric Coquerel, a parliament member of the far-left La France Insoumise (The Unbowed) party attends a demonstration outside Sciences-Po university in Paris, Friday, April 26, 2024 (AP)
Politics

French teacher suspended for minute of silence in solidarity with Gaza

Palestinian landlord Akram Sabra, 60, stands next to a vehicle burnt under attack by Israeli settlers overnight, in the West Bank village of Bruqin, near Salfit Friday, May 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Nasser Nasser)
Politics

Israeli settlers torch homes, vehicles in West Bank village

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, reads a paper in a meeting with his Omani counterpart Sayyid Badr Albusaidi at the Omani Embassy in Rome during the fifth round of Iran-US negotiations, Friday, May 23, 2025 (Iran Foreign Ministry)
Politics

Iran-US talks in Rome yield limited progress, Omani FM says

AP
Politics

EU sought ship, port, energy ties in nixed proposal to Trump: Report

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS