Uranium enrichment is a red line to Iran, MPs tell IRNA
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In an exclusive to IRNA, two Iranian lawmakers firmly rejected US demands for a halt to uranium enrichment, calling it a red line and inalienable right and emphasizing Iran’s peaceful nuclear intentions.
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Delegates arrive at the Omani Embassy in Rome after a closed-door meeting between Iranian and US delegations for the Iranian nuclear talks, Friday, May 23, 2025 (AP)
Two senior members of Iran’s Parliament have reaffirmed the Islamic Republic’s unwavering commitment to uranium enrichment, describing it as both a “red line” and an “inalienable right” that will not be compromised under any circumstances amid the ongoing talks between Tehran and Washington.
Speaking to IRNA on Saturday, Behnam Saeedi, a member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, dismissed the recent US demand for a full cessation of enrichment activities, warning that such pressure would derail the ongoing diplomatic efforts.
“The Iranian negotiating team will firmly defend the country’s rights and will not back down,” Saeedi said, emphasizing that the talks must adhere to the principles of mutual respect, non-interference in red lines, and the complete lifting of sanctions.
Iran to resist US pressures
Saeedi warned that any attempts by Washington to undermine Iran’s sovereign right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes would face firm resistance.
“Enrichment is Iran’s inalienable right and will continue on its path with strength,” he asserted, recalling that the nation has sacrificed blood and treasure to defend this scientific achievement.
He also reiterated that Iran has never sought nuclear weapons, in line with the fatwa issued by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, which explicitly bans the development or use of such arms.
'Unrealistic US demand'
Another commission member, Salar Velayatmadar, also condemned the US proposal to halt all enrichment, calling it an “unrealistic demand” that contradicts the fundamentals of sovereign technological rights.
“As the Leader of the Islamic Revolution has affirmed, we are not seeking nuclear weapons. However, nuclear energy is the inalienable right of every country, and we will continue to pursue it with determination,” Velayatmadar told IRNA.
While expressing Iran’s readiness to remain at the negotiating table, he underlined that trustworthiness from the other side is essential to any progress. Iran, he added, has been transparent from the very beginning that enrichment is non-negotiable.
“From the very first round of negotiations, we made it clear that enrichment should not be up for discussion,” he said. “Iran is conquering the peaks of science and technology, and we will not surrender any of our rights.”
Iran-US talks in Rome yield limited progress
The fifth round of indirect talks between Iran and the United States concluded in Rome with cautious optimism but no decisive breakthrough, according to statements by Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, who is mediating the process.
“We achieved some progress, although it was not conclusive,” al-Busaidi said during a press briefing at the end of the talks. He expressed hope that “outstanding issues can be clarified in the coming days in a way that allows for meaningful progress toward a sustainable agreement.”
The talks, held behind closed doors at the headquarters of Oman’s diplomatic mission in the Italian capital, lasted three and a half hours, according to Al Mayadeen’s correspondent in Rome.
The session saw the early departure of the US special envoy, Steve Witkoff, which raised questions about Washington’s posture in the talks. However, the continued presence of the American technical delegation was viewed as a positive sign. “The fact that the technical team remained is an encouraging indication,” Al Mayadeen’s correspondent noted.
