Iran rejects US demand on no enrichment, calls talks ‘game of snakes and ladders’

“The three islands of Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa are an inseparable part of the territory of Iran,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in a statement on Monday.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran considers any claim in this regard to be contrary to the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law—namely, respect for the territorial integrity and national sovereignty of countries, as well as the principle of good neighbourliness.”

His remarks came in response to the Baghdad Declaration issued at the conclusion of the 34th Arab League Summit, a gathering of Arab heads of state held Saturday in Iraq’s capital.

The statement repeated the Arab League's support, first announced last year, for the UAE’s sovereignty over the three islands administered by Iran since 1971.

The three Persian Gulf islands have historically been part of Iran, as supported by historical and geographical documents.

However, the United Arab Emirates has repeatedly laid claim to the territory, describing the situation as “the continued occupation by the Islamic Republic of Iran", and an issue which has now become a sticking point in the relationship between the two countries.

The Arab League called on Iran to resolve the dispute either through direct negotiations or by referring the matter to the International Court of Justice.

Baghaei said raising the issue in the final communiqué of the Arab League summit was unacceptable and urged the organisation to “refrain from addressing baseless claims.”

In the absence of the British ambassador, the UK diplomat was summoned by Shahram Ghazizadeh, director of the Iranian Foreign Ministry’s Western Europe Department, who conveyed Tehran's strong objections to both the arrests and what he described as unfounded accusations against the Islamic Republic.

Ghazizadeh demanded explanations from the UK government regarding the legal grounds for detaining the individuals, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

In two separate operations on May 3, eight men including seven Iranians were arrested by the British counter-terrorism police.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry official accused London of deliberately failing to notify the Iranian embassy in a timely manner and condemned what he described as Britain's refusal to provide evidence and its denial of consular access.

The Iranian official also warned that Britain would be held responsible for the consequences of actions that appeared politically motivated and aimed at pressuring Iran.

The UK police charged three of the Iranian detainees with offences under the National Security Act, alleging they acted on behalf of Iran’s intelligence service and carried out surveillance targeting Iran International journalists.

The men — Mostafa Sepahvand, 39, Farhad Javadi Manesh, 44, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori, 56 — were arrested at their homes in London on May 3 and charged on Friday.

All three are accused of engaging in conduct likely to assist a foreign intelligence service between August 14, 2024 and February 16, 2025, in breach of Section 3 of the National Security Act 2023. The foreign state involved is Iran, police said.

The five other detainees who had been arrested as part of a "pre-planned" investigation into a suspected plot to "attack a specific location" were later released from custody.

The five men included four Iranians arrested in different parts of the UK under the Terrorism Act on suspicion of preparing a terror attack. The men, aged between 29 and 46, were arrested in Swindon, west London, Stockport, and Rochdale.

The fifth man, aged 24 and arrested in Manchester under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, had previously been released on bail with conditions, pending a court date in May.

President Donald Trump’s envoy to the Middle East on Sunday said Washington will not accept any level of uranium enrichment in a potential agreement with Tehran.

“We cannot allow even one percent of an enrichment capability,” he told ABC News.

“Everything begins from our standpoint with a deal that does not include enrichment.”

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi swiftly rejected Witkoff’s remarks, calling them unrealistic and disconnected from the state of negotiations. “I think he is completely at a distance from the reality of the negotiations,” Araghchi told IRGC-affiliated Tasnim News Agency.

In a post on X, Araghchi stressed that uranium enrichment in Iran will not be halted under any scenario.

“If the US is interested in ensuring that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, a deal is within reach, and we are ready for a serious conversation to achieve a solution that will forever ensure that outcome,” Araghchi posted on X. “Enrichment in Iran, however, will continue with or without a deal.”

He also accused the United States of inconsistency in its messaging. “Iran can only control what we Iranians do, and that is to avoid negotiating in public—particularly given the current dissonance we are seeing between what our US interlocutors say in public and in private, and from one week to the other."

Next round of US-Iran talks

Araghchi on Sunday said that a date for the next round of talks has been set and will be announced soon by Oman, which is acting as a mediator, but denied that Tehran had received any formal written proposal from the US.

Witkoff, for his part, said the US had already conveyed its position at the highest level. “(Trump) has directly sent letters to the supreme leader. I have been dispatched to deliver that message as well, and I've delivered it,” he said.

Witkoff said that the next round of negotiations may take place in Europe in the coming days.

“We think that we will be meeting sometime this week in Europe. And we hope that it will lead to some real positivity,” he said.

Iran and the United States have already held four rounds of talks in Muscat and Rome.

Trump said Thursday that the US was “very close” to securing a deal with Iran but warned on Friday that Tehran must act quickly. “They have a proposal. More importantly, they know they have to move quickly or something bad—something bad’s going to happen,” he told reporters aboard Air Force One.

The Istanbul meeting, held at Iran’s consulate and attended by political directors from the UK, France, and Germany, saw the Europeans propose language that would give them standing power to reimpose UN sanctions, irrespective of US participation in any agreement.

According to the report published on Sunday, the European side demanded the right to activate sanctions unilaterally under a "snapback-plus" cause in any deal reached between Iran and the US.

The Iranian delegation firmly rejected the proposal, Farhikhtegan wrote, warning that any such move could provoke Tehran to reconsider its membership in the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

One unnamed Iranian official was quoted as saying: “Iran has no objection to Europe’s presence in negotiations, but this cannot mean granting them enforcement privileges that exceed the original terms.”

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi was asked on Sunday if the Istanbul talks signaled a renewed European willingness to engage. He replied, "The issue is that the Europeans have always had such a will, but their capabilities are limited."

"At the moment, the Europeans are not involved in our talks with the Americans, which is not something we welcome. It seems they haven't reached an internal consensus on this issue," he told IRNA on the sidelines of the Tehran Dialogue Forum.

"We will continue our talks with Europe and believe that the more mutual understanding exists between us, the better. We want Europe to play its role, though they themselves have diminished that role."

Snapback mechanism

The Farhikhtegan report said that European envoys threatened to trigger the so-called snapback mechanism and raised the prospect of broader sanctions should their demands be sidelined—remarks that further escalated tensions during the Istanbul meeting.

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi confirmed on Sunday that the snapback issue was raised in recent discussions with the Europeans.

“The Europeans are aware of our position on this matter,” he said. “If any misuse occurs in this regard, we will not remain passive and will take measures within the framework of the NPT.”

The snapback mechanism is a provision within the 2015 Iran nuclear deal (JCPOA) that allows for the reimposition of UN sanctions on Iran if it is found to be in “significant non-performance” of its commitments. This process is outlined in UN Security Council Resolution 2231, which endorsed the JCPOA.

Under the mechanism, any JCPOA participant—France, Britain, Germany, Russia, China, and arguably the US—can file a complaint to the UN Security Council. If the Council does not pass a resolution to continue sanctions relief within 30 days, all previously lifted UN sanctions are automatically reinstated.

Crucially, this reimposition cannot be blocked by a veto from any permanent member of the Security Council. Although the US withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018, it could still influence other participants to trigger snapback.

At the opening of Tehran Dialogue Forum on Sunday, Masoud Pezeshkian reaffirmed Tehran’s commitment to its peaceful nuclear program while rejecting accusations of weaponization.

“We have the right, under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes such as health, agriculture, and industry,” he said.

The president pointed out Iran’s long-standing position that it does not seek nuclear weapons, citing religious prohibitions and ethical opposition to weapons of mass destruction.

“Our religious belief does not permit the production of nuclear weapons — tools that can destroy humanity and have no future on this Earth besides savagery,” Pezeshkian said. “Even the US president said, ‘We must make sure Iran does not have a nuclear weapon.’ Fine — let them come and check. We have nothing to hide.”

The Tehran Dialogue Forum, organized by Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, aims to promote unofficial diplomacy, according to the ministry. The two-day event includes participation from foreign ministers, senior policy officials, and UN representatives, with panel sessions livestreamed to audiences worldwide.

Omani Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi — who has facilitated four rounds of indirect talks between Iran and the United States — attended the forum and may be carrying a new American proposal Trump alluded to Friday.

Trump said Iran has the US proposal, but hours later Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran has received no written offer, directly or indirectly.

Call for a ‘fair and balanced’ nuclear deal

In a keynote speech at the same forum, the Iranian foreign minister described US sanctions as “unjust and unilateral,” directly targeting Iranian civilians, and urged their genuine and verifiable removal.

He added that Tehran remains committed to diplomacy and the nuclear non-proliferation treaty. “We are seeking a fair and balanced agreement that fully respects Iran’s nuclear rights under the NPT and leads to the tangible and verifiable removal of sanctions,” Araghchi said.

“Sanctions that directly target our people must be lifted in a real and measurable way,” he added. “Such an agreement can serve the interests of both sides and promote peace, stability, and security in the region.”

Araghchi said again that Iran has never pursued nuclear weapons and expressed Tehran’s willingness to resolve international concerns through transparency and dialogue.

“We have always worked to address logical international concerns about our nuclear program through interaction and transparency,” he said.

Last month, UN's nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said in an interview with Le Monde that Iran was “not far” from being able to produce an atomic bomb, describing the country’s progress as “pieces of a puzzle” that could potentially come together.

Iran’s stockpile of 60% enriched uranium has risen to 275 kg, up from 182 kg last quarter, the the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief told the agency’s board in March, warning that Iran remains the only non-nuclear weapon state enriching to such a level.

The IAEA says 60% enrichment has no credible civilian use and is close to weapons-grade. Iran maintains that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes and remains under IAEA monitoring and has no secret nuclear site.

Iran outlines foreign policy strategy, offers reset with Europe

In his address, Araghchi outlined Iran’s evolving foreign policy under President Pezeshkian, structured around three pillars: expanding ties with neighbors, strengthening cooperation with emerging powers and the Global South, and balancing relations with both Eastern and Western blocs.

“Iran seeks to play an active role in shaping a multipolar, just global order,” he said, pointing to Iran’s membership in BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization.

Iran views its participation in organizations like BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization as a sign of its growing alignment with multipolar global structures.

Araghchi also said Tehran is ready to begin a “new chapter” with Europe if European states adopt an independent and constructive approach.

He added that Tehran is open to improving ties with Europe if there is a “genuine will” and an “independent approach” from European partners. “If Europe is ready to move past a fixation on disputes, we are ready to open a new chapter.”

Earlier in the day, conservative daily Farhikhtegan reported that European powers pressed for a formal seat at the table and new enforcement mechanisms during Friday’s meeting in Iran’s consulate in Istanbul.

Rejecting ‘external domination’ for regional agency

Addressing the broader geopolitical context, both Pezeshkian and Araghchi denounced what they called foreign interference in West Asia.

“The fate of our region should not remain in the hands of extra-regional powers... it must not remain tied to decisions made in think tanks outside of it,” Araghchi said, citing the Gaza crisis as further evidence of the failure of international systems.

“West Asia needs a fundamental rethinking of its self-image,” Iran’s top diplomat said at the forum, titled “Regional Agency in a Disordered World: Unity or Division?”

He called for a rethinking of the region’s self-image, moving away from narratives imposed by outside actors and instead building an indigenous order. “It is time we dismantle the fabricated and imposed quasi-realities, and establish a local, desirable, and sustainable order,” he said.

Forum as a platform for unofficial diplomacy

The two-day Tehran Dialogue Forum, hosted by Iran’s Foreign Ministry think tank — the Center for Political and International Studies — brings together 200 foreign delegates, including ministers and decision-makers from Persian Gulf and Asian states, according to state media.

Saeed Khatibzadeh, head of the Center, described the forum as “a platform for unofficial diplomatic conversation” that consolidates prior regional conferences on the Persian Gulf, Central Asia, and Afghanistan into a single event aimed at strengthening regional diplomacy.

This year’s forum marks a return after a one-year hiatus due to the death of Iran’s former President Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian in a helicopter crash

Khatibzadeh said the forum’s revival under the new administration signals a renewed commitment to diplomacy “rooted in regional priorities, not foreign agendas.”

“Diplomacy, like all other fields, has diverse methods — sometimes a single individual can advance diplomacy as much as an institution,” he said.

He said that all Persian Gulf states sent high-ranking delegations, and that the conference includes 40 panel discussions broadcast live. Around 50 foreign media outlets are covering the event, he said.

The message of Iran’s leadership at the Forum was clear: while Tehran is open to renewed engagement with the US and Europe, it will not accept coercion or compromise on what it views as sovereign rights.

“As a free human being, I reject all forms of coercion,” said President Pezeshkian. “So does every free person in this country and this region. Free nations will never bow to pressure.”