Iran is approaching talks in the US and Oman over a nuclear program, with deep doubts about Washington’s motivations following repeated threats of military action in leading up to the meeting.
US President Donald Trump announced this week that his administration will hold “direct” consultations with Tehran on Saturday. But his warning comes after the recent threat of bombing the country, that if the speech fails, Iran is in a “big danger.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Aragchi showed his willingness to involve Tehran on Tuesday, but nevertheless claimed amid threats that the consultations were “indirect,” but he issued a warning memo saying “Iran prefers diplomacy, but knows how to defend itself.”
In an opinion piece released Tuesday in the Washington Post, Araguchi hinted at “an important wall of mistrust” and “questions about the integrity of intentions.”
Behind the scenes, three Iranian officials told news outlet Reuters that Trump’s warning was deemed “to box the Islamic Republic and accept concessions in talks that Trump would demand or face air attacks.”
“Trump wants a new deal. We will end the impact of Iran’s region, dismantle the nuclear program and stop the work of missiles. These will not be accepted by Tehran. Our nuclear program cannot be dismantled,” an Iranian official told the press.
Iran’s suspicions could have been heightened by the presence of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the White House when Trump announced talks on Saturday.
Netanyahu, who repeatedly urged the US government to use strikes against Iran’s nuclear program, cited the complete dismantling of Libya’s atomic program in 2003, saying that if it was “fully” done, a diplomatic solution would be good.
With regional tensions that emerged during the war with Gaza, Israel has been engaged in severe attacks on Iran last year as Tehran’s Leibanon ally Hezbollah, destroying many of the group’s weapons and killing many of its leadership, including the longtime Haysan Nasrara.
Tehran’s position in the region was further weakened by the state’s opposition last year by the collapse of another important partner, Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Analyst Tohid Asadi spoke from Tehran and said the Iranian and US signal were at odds.
“(araghchi) said he is seeing pressure and threats from the US under these circumstances. There is no possibility of an in-person meeting. That contradicts what he heard from US President Donald Trump, who said that the two sides are preparing for the in-person meeting,” Asadi told Al Jazeera.
“Follow” lectures from Russia and China
Prior to talks in Oman on Saturday, deputy ministers of Russia, China and Iran met in Moscow, with the Kremlin welcoming the opening of a dialogue between Washington and Tehran.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was “absolutely” supporting the initiative. “This is only welcome because it could lead to the emission of tensions around Iran,” he said.
The Russian House of Representatives also ratified its 20-year strategic partnership with Iran on Tuesday. This is a sign that deepens military ties between the two countries.
China has proposed pointy criticism of Washington, calling for Trump for ripping a 2015 deal between Iran, Russia, China, France, the UK and Germany, and six world powers.
“A country that unilaterally withdraws from Iran’s comprehensive nuclear deal and causes the current situation should show that the United States should show political integrity (and)… mutual respect,” said Lin Zian, a spokesman for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Trump unilaterally withdrew from his contract in 2018 during his first presidency.
A report from Moscow, Al Jazeera’s Julia Shapovarova said Russia and China “agree to follow what is happening with Iran and the US nuclear deal, particularly in terms of US rhetoric to force this issue.”
Defense: “Non-negotiable”
Following Trump’s withdrawal from nuclear deals, Iran’s decision to stop complying with its obligations under the agreement continued.
As a result, Iran has accumulated a large stock of highly enriched uranium, leaving a short step out of weapon grade, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The agency said in February that Iran’s estimated 274.8 kilograms (606 pounds) of uranium had been enriched to up to 60%. The weapon grade is approximately 90%.
However, Iran has repeatedly argued in the past that its nuclear activities are for private purposes only.
Israel, which vehemently opposed the 2015 agreement, is widely believed to have undeclared nuclear weapons. There has been widespread speculation that Israel might attack Iranian facilities if Israel fails to reach a new agreement in future talks with the US.
“Our defense is unnegotiable. How can Tehran disarm when Israel has a nuclear warhead? If Israel or others attack, who will protect us?” Iranian officials asked in an interview with Reuters.
Iran has endured repeated sanctions programmes over the past few decades. Iranian military leaders have previously threatened to cut off local oil exports.