Iranian President Massoud Pezeshkian said Tehran is “ready” to show the world it is not trying to acquire nuclear weapons as talks for a potential peace deal between the Islamic regime and the United States look to move forward.
US President Donald Trump said on Saturday afternoon that a “deal has been substantially negotiated” with the Iranian regime. Although the president did not disclose specifics of the deal, briefings by US officials revealed reports that the mullahs’ negotiators had expressed a willingness to give up their nuclear program and hand over their enriched uranium.
Although Tehran has not yet officially confirmed the details of the planned MOU, Iranian President Pezeshkian has indicated that his government would be willing to make such a deal.
In comments reported by the state-run Islamic Republic News Agency (INRA) on Sunday, Pezeshkian said: “Before the martyrdom of Iran’s late leader Ayatollah Khamenei, we declared – and we repeat now – that we are ready to assure the world that we do not want nuclear weapons.”
Pezeshkian claimed that Tehran does not want to create regional instability, but did not specify what measures the regime would be willing to take to demonstrate its commitment not to acquire nuclear weapons.
Separately, Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baqai said the regime was in the final stages of reaching a memorandum of understanding with the United States.
“We are at the stage of finalizing a memorandum of understanding, and the issues being discussed, as I mentioned earlier, generally focus on ending the war,” he said.
Nevertheless, Baqi rejected the idea that Iran’s nuclear program is on the table, saying: “We know that our nuclear issue has been a pretext for two wars against the Iranian people, but we have responsibly and wisely decided at this stage to prioritize and focus on an issue that is urgent for all of us, which is ending war on all fronts – I emphasize, including Lebanon.”
However, According According to CBS News senior White House reporter Jennifer Jacobs, Washington’s perception is that Iran’s supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei, who has not been seen in public since reportedly being wounded during the initial attack of Operation Epic Fury, is said to have agreed to the principles of the peace deal presented by the White House, including the disposal of its enriched uranium.
US officials expressed confidence in its ability to force Iran to abandon its nuclear ambitions. Speaking on the sidelines of his diplomatic mission to India on Sunday, Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “the ultimate goal is that Iran can never have a nuclear weapon.”
“We think we’ve made some progress on the outline of something that, if it works, can get us those results,” Rubio said. He warned that any agreement would still require “full Iranian acceptance and then compliance.”
Rubio said that “There is no one stronger than President Trump on this issue,” adding: “The idea that somehow this president, after everything he’s already proven he’s willing to do, is somehow going to agree to a deal that will ultimately put Iran in a stronger position in terms of nuclear ambitions is absurd.”
President Trump also reiterated his stance on Sunday that Iran cannot obtain nuclear weapons, saying they are on that path as a result of the Iran deal signed by former President Barack Obama and that any deal he signs would be “exactly the opposite.”
He wrote, “Negotiations are proceeding in an orderly and constructive manner, and I have informed my representatives not to rush into a deal until an agreement is on our side. The blockade will remain in full force and effect until an agreement is reached, certified and signed.”
“Both sides must take their time and get it right. There can be no mistakes! Our relationship with Iran is becoming much more professional and productive. However, they must understand that they cannot develop or purchase nuclear weapons or bombs.”
