Iran rules out transferring enriched uranium abroad in deal
Iran’s government ruled out transferring enriched uranium out of the country in any deal with the United States and insisted sanctions relief remains Tehran’s top priority in the negotiations.
“The transfer of enriched uranium is among the issues that are a red line for the Islamic Republic of Iran,” government spokesman Fatemeh Mohajerani said on Tuesday.
She added that the talks aim to “effectively lift sanctions and improve economic conditions,” which she linked to both international cooperation and domestic market sentiment.
Iran's Supreme Leader has sent a direct message to his Chinese counterpart vowing a steady commitment to their strategic partnership no matter the outcome of ongoing nuclear talks with the US, a source familiar with the matter told Iran International.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is traveling to Beijing on Tuesday with Ali Khamenei’s letter to Xi Jinping, a diplomatic source familiar with the message told Iran International.
“In his message to Xi, the Supreme Leader said Iran’s ‘Look to the East’ policy is a foundational pillar of its foreign relations and will not be altered by any rapprochement with Washington.”
According to the diplomatic source, Khamenei’s message also referenced Iran’s cautious opening up to diplomacy and economic cooperation with the West following a 2015 nuclear agreement, telling Xi that such a change in orientation would not be repeated.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry dismissed reports that Saudi Arabia has played a mediating role in nuclear talks with the United States.
“All of this is merely media speculation and rumor and does not reflect reality,” ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said in comments to Russian news agency RIA Novosti.
Russia, Baghaei added, will continue to play its “constructive and positive role in handling Iran’s nuclear file.”
Iran's Supreme Leader has sent a direct message to his Chinese counterpart vowing a steady commitment to their strategic partnership no matter the outcome of ongoing nuclear talks with the US, a source familiar with the matter told Iran International.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi is traveling to Beijing on Tuesday with Ali Khamenei’s letter to Xi Jinping, a diplomatic source familiar with the message told Iran International.
The move comes days before Araghchi is expected to hold a third round of talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff.
“In his message to Xi, the Supreme Leader emphasized that the Islamic Republic remains fully committed to the 25-year cooperation agreement with China,” the source added.
“He added that Iran’s ‘Look to the East’ policy is a foundational pillar of its foreign relations and will not be altered by any rapprochement with Washington.”
Despite close political ties and a comprehensive strategic agreement signed, Chinese investments in Iran have lagged far behind expectations. Only two major deals were struck between 2013 and 2023, with one later annulled following the US exit from a 2015 nuclear deal.
Iran and the United States this month engaged in two rounds of nuclear negotiations, first in Muscat and then in Rome, mediated by Oman. The initial talks in Muscat were described as "positive and constructive," with both sides agreeing to continue discussions the following week.
A third round of talks is slated for Saturday, as the two sides approach a 60-day deadline set by the US president for achieving a deal on Tehran's disputed nuclear program.
In late March, Trump threatened to bomb Iran and impose secondary sanctions if no nuclear deal is reached with Tehran.
Post-2015 opening to West 'won't be repeated’
According to the same diplomatic source, Khamenei’s message also referenced Iran’s cautious opening up to diplomacy and economic cooperation with the West following a 2015 nuclear agreement, telling Xi that such a change in orientation would not be repeated.
“The message was meant to reassure China that any agreement with the US is solely intended to reduce tensions,” the source said.
In his weekly press briefing on Monday, Iran's Foreign ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei said Tehran continues to coordinate with allies, adding, “It is natural that we will brief China on the latest in the Iran-US talks.”
Iran's former Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi bump elbows during the signing ceremony of a 25-year cooperation agreement, in Tehran, Iran March 27, 2021.
Araghchi’s trip to Beijing mirrors a recent effort in which Iran’s foreign minister delivered a similar message from Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin ahead of earlier talks in Italy.
Though China remains Iran’s top trading partner, Chinese firms have signed far more lucrative contracts with Saudi Arabia and the UAE in recent years.
Since taking office, the Trump administration has escalated pressure on Iran by targeting Chinese teapot refineries—independent processors of Iranian crude that have served as a vital economic conduit for Tehran under sanctions.
Oman's Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said discussed ongoing US-Iran talks mediated by Muscat with Russian President Vladimir Putin while on a visit to the Russian capital, a Kremlin foreign policy aide said on Tuesday.
"We discussed the progress of negotiations between Iranian and American representatives," Interfax quoted Yury Ushakov as saying.
"We will see what the result will be. We maintain close contact with our Iranian colleagues. Where we can, we help."
US Senator John Cornyn voiced support for President Trump’s stated commitment to preventing Iran from obtaining nuclear weapons but warned that diplomacy may not be enough.
“Hopefully, by complete dismantling of their weapons program via negotiations; if not, by any means necessary,” Cornyn wrote on X Tuesday.
