TEHRAN, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi on Wednesday reiterated that Tehran will not abandon uranium enrichment on its soil, rejecting renewed U.S. calls to halt the process as a condition for a potential nuclear deal.
In a post on social media platform X, Araghchi responded to recent remarks by U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, who said the United States would not accept any Iranian uranium enrichment under a new agreement.
"To reiterate: No enrichment, no deal. No nuclear weapons, we have a deal," Araghchi wrote.
He said Iran had developed the capacity to fuel nuclear reactors through years of investment in its industrial, academic and technological infrastructure, noting that few countries possessed such capabilities.
"There is a reason why only a few nations master the ability to fuel nuclear reactors," he said. "It requires significant financial resources, political will, a solid industrial base, and a technological-academic complex to produce the necessary expertise. We paid dearly for it, and we will not give up on the patriots who made our dream come true."
Earlier on Wednesday, Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei called uranium enrichment a "key" part of the country's nuclear program. Responding to U.S. demands to dismantle Iran's nuclear industry, he said: "The United States and Israel cannot do a damn thing against Iran's nuclear industry."
Trump, in a post on his platform Truth Social on Monday, said any agreement with Iran must rule out uranium enrichment entirely.
Since April, Iran and the United States have held five rounds of indirect talks -- three in Muscat and two in Rome -- aimed at curbing Tehran's nuclear activity in exchange for sanctions relief. A sixth round is expected in the coming days, though no date or venue has been confirmed. ■
