US Warned Iran On 90 Pct Uranium Enrichment During Talks In Oman Last Month: Report
Date
6/10/2023 3:04:35 PM
(MENAFN- AzerNews) US and Iranian officials engaged in indirect talks in Oman last
month, where Washington conveyed a strong warning to Tehran that it
would face serious consequences if it enriched uranium up to
90-percent purity, according to a report, Azernews reports, citing
Al Arabiya.
Brett McGurk, the White House National Security Council's Middle
East policy coordinator, and an Iranian delegation that included
Ali Bagheri-Kani, Iran's chief nuclear negotiator, were in present
Oman in early May, Axios reported on Friday, citing unnamed
sources.
Instead of meeting directly, the two sides remained in separate
locations, with Omani officials serving as intermediaries to
facilitate the exchange of messages, the report said.
One of the main messages from the US to the Iranians focused on
deterrence, with Washington making it clear that Iran would pay a
“heavy price” if it chose to enrich uranium up to 90 percent, the
level needed to produce a nuclear bomb.
The objective of these indirect talks was to reach an
“understanding” about ways to deescalate Iran's nuclear program,
its conduct in the region, and its involvement in the conflict in
Ukraine, according to the report.
This comes as efforts to revive the 2015 nuclear deal have
stalled since last year. The deal offered Iran relief from
international sanctions in exchange for strict but temporary curbs
on its nuclear program.
The agreement unraveled after the US withdrew from it under
former President Donald Trump in 2018.
Last month, Yoav Gallant, the defense minister of Iran's
arch-foe, Israel, warned that if Tehran chose to enrich uranium to
90 percent, it would be a“grave mistake” with the potential to
“could ignite the region.”
Iran has denied seeking to acquire nuclear weapons and insists
that it has not attempted to enrich urnium beyond 60-percent
purity.
---
MENAFN10062023000195011045ID1106421029
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.