Tehran
\nIran and the United States have differing views over sanctions relief in talks to curb Tehran\u2019s nuclear ambitions, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday, adding that new talks were planned in early March as fears of a military confrontation grow.
\nIran and the US renewed negotiations earlier this month to tackle their decades-long dispute over Tehran\u2019s nuclear programme as the US builds up its military capability in the Middle East, fuelling fears of a wider war.
\nIran has threatened to strike US bases in the Middle East if it is attacked by US forces.
\n\u201cThe last round of talks showed that US ideas regarding the scope and mechanism of sanctions relief differ from Iran\u2019s demands. Both sides need to reach a logical timetable for lifting sanctions,\u201d the official said.
\n\u201cThis roadmap must be reasonable and based on mutual interests.\u201d
\nIran\u2019s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Friday that he expected to have a draft counterproposal ready within days, while US President Donald Trump said he was considering limited military strikes.
\nReadiness to compromise
\nWhile rejecting a US demand for \u201czero enrichment\u201d \u2014 a major sticking point in past negotiations \u2014 Tehran has signalled its readiness to compromise on its nuclear work.
\nWashington views enrichment inside Iran as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran denies seeking nuclear weapons and wants its right to enrich uranium to be recognised.
\nWashington has also demanded that Iran relinquish its stockpile of highly enriched uranium (HEU). The UN nuclear agency last year estimated that stockpile at more than 440 kg of uranium enriched to up to 60% fissile purity, a small step away from the 90% that is considered weapons grade.
\n\u201cThe negotiations continue, and the possibility of reaching an interim agreement exists,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
The Iranian official said Tehran could seriously consider a combination of exporting part of its HEU stockpile, diluting the purity of its most highly enriched uranium and the establishment of a regional enrichment consortium in exchange for the recognition of Iran\u2019s right to \u201cpeaceful nuclear enrichment\u201d.<\/p>\n
Benefits for both sides
\nIranian authorities have said that a diplomatic solution delivers economic benefits for both Tehran and Washington.
\n\u201cWithin the economic package under negotiation, the United States has also been offered opportunities for serious investment and tangible economic interests in Iran\u2019s oil industry,\u201d the official said.
\nHowever, he said Tehran will not hand over control of its oil and mineral resources.
\n\u201cUltimately, the US can be an economic partner for Iran, nothing more. American companies can always participate as contractors in Iran\u2019s oil and gas fields.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Tehran Iran and the United States have differing views over sanctions relief in talks to curb Tehran\u2019s nuclear ambitions, a senior Iranian official told Reuters on Sunday, adding that new talks were planned in early March as fears of a military confrontation grow. Iran and the US renewed negotiations earlier this month to tackle their […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-532917","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n