Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi claimed that the United States has not requested Iran permanently discontinue nuclear enrichment in an interview with MS NOW’s Joe Scarborough on Friday.
Host Scarborough probed Araghchi on previous US requests for Iran to halt all nuclear enrichment, a push that US officials have repeatedly reiterated.
“We have not offered any suspension, and the US side has not asked for zero enrichment,” Araghchi responded. “What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran's nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and will remain peaceful forever.”
Araghchi additionally claimed that Iran was willing to implement “confidence-building measures” to “ensure that Iran's program cannot even be diverted to non-peaceful purposes” such as the possible construction of nuclear weapons.
He cited technical commitments, technical measures, and political commitments as such confidence-building measures, adding that the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, has been involved in recent US-Iran nuclear negotiations.
Iran prepared for war with US
Despite movement towards a deal, Araghchi added that Iran is prepared for war with the US.
“We are prepared for war, and we are prepared for peace. We are prepared for diplomacy, and we are prepared for negotiation as much as we are prepared for war,” Araghchi emphasized.
Araghchi additionally stated that a diplomatic solution to the nuclear issue is within reach and “can be achieved in a very short period of time.”
“A fair and equitable deal, I believe, is achievable, but we need some sort of creativity and flexibility by both sides so a deal is at our reach,” he said, adding that he believes “there is no military solution for Iran's nuclear program.”