Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi
| Photograph Credit score: AP
Iranian Overseas Minister Abbas Araghchi stated U.S. negotiators haven’t requested Tehran finish its nuclear enrichment programme, contradicting statements from American officers.
“We have now not provided any suspension, and the U.S. facet has not requested for zero enrichment,” Mr. Araghchi stated in an interview on the Morning Joe present printed on-line Friday (February 19, 2026) by U.S. TV community MSNBC.
The highest diplomat additionally stated the subsequent step in talks between the 2 sides is for him to current a draft of a attainable deal to Washington “within the subsequent two, three days”.
“What we are actually speaking about is learn how to ensure that Iran’s nuclear programme, together with enrichment, is peaceable and would stay peaceable ceaselessly,” Mr. Araghchi stated.
His feedback stand in distinction to data relayed by high-ranking U.S. officers together with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly stated Iran should not be allowed to counterpoint uranium at any degree.
Mr. Araghchi’s remarks come after Washington and Tehran concluded on Tuesday (February 17, 2026) a second spherical of Oman-mediated talks within the Swiss metropolis of Geneva.
The 2 foes held an preliminary spherical of discussions on February 6 in Oman, the primary since earlier talks collapsed through the 12-day Iran-Israel struggle final June wherein the U.S. took half by placing Iranian nuclear amenities.
On Thursday (February 19, 2026), Mr. Trump advised the U.S. would assault Iran once more if Tehran doesn’t make a cope with Washington inside 10 days, which he later prolonged to fifteen.
Washington has repeatedly known as for zero enrichment however has additionally sought to handle Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its assist for militant teams within the area — points which Israel has pushed to incorporate within the talks.
Western nations accuse the Islamic republic of in search of to accumulate nuclear weapons.
Tehran denies having such navy ambitions however insists on its proper to the know-how for civilian functions.
Mr. Trump, who has ratcheted up strain on Iran to succeed in an settlement, has deployed a major naval power to the area, which he has described as an “armada”.
After sending the plane provider USS Abraham Lincoln and escort battleships to the Gulf in January, he ordered a second provider, the Gerald Ford, to depart for the West Asia.
In the meantime, Iranian naval forces this week carried out navy drills within the Gulf and across the strategic Strait of Hormuz in their very own present of power.
Revealed – February 20, 2026 07:12 pm IST