Battle for uranium. Iran denies Trump's words and sets tough conditions

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Said Khatibzade said on Saturday that Tehran is not ready for a new round of direct talks with the US because Washington does not give up its maximalist demands on key issues, the Associated Press reported.

Khatibzade also told the AP that Tehran would not transfer enriched uranium to the United States and called it an unacceptable condition.

US President Donald Trump claimed on Friday that the Americans, together with the Iranians, will extract enriched Iranian uranium, which will then go to the United States.

Contact is maintained between the parties, but Iran wants to first finalize the “framework agreement” with the US before starting face-to-face talks, Khatibzade emphasized.

According to him, the United States should take into account the issues raised by Iran, including Western sanctions imposed on the country.

Earlier on Saturday, Trump said there were “very good talks” going on with Iran and that Iran had “agreed to everything,” including an indefinite renunciation of uranium enrichment and a joint export of its stockpile of enriched uranium.

The date and place of the next round of US-Iran talks have not yet been set. Pakistani authorities are mediating between the sides, and the capital, Islamabad, hosted the first meeting last weekend.

On Thursday, Trump said the next phase of talks could take place on Saturday or Sunday. He added that he may fly to Pakistan if the agreement is ready.

On February 28, the United States and Israel attacked Iran, which responded by attacking the Persian Gulf countries and virtually closed the Strait of Hormuz. Currently, there is a two-week truce, which expires on the night of Tuesday to Wednesday. (PAP)

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