Iran07 February, 20262 min read
Iran Rejects Zero Enrichment, Signals Readiness to Resume Nuclear Talks and Warns U.S. of Retaliation
This article is an automated aggregation of coverage from news outlets. Our editorials offer in-depth analysis curated by the NewsCord team.
Iran refuses to eliminate its domestic uranium enrichment program; it's non-negotiable Iran expresses readiness to resume nuclear talks with the U.S. for a reassuring enrichment deal
8 outlets told this the same way.
Outlets did split on Iran Reviews US Negotiation Proposals As Pakistan And Qatar Mediate Strait Of Hormuz Dispute →
Tehran's enrichment stance
Iran’s negotiating team has made clear that zero-percent uranium enrichment is unacceptable and that Tehran views enrichment as a legal right. The team said it remained open to talks limited to the nuclear file. Iranian officials described recent indirect discussions as a cautious step forward but insisted any technical measures must respect Iran’s enrichment rights.
PressTV reports Araghchi saying Iran 'rejected any demand for zero-percent enrichment' and that 'uranium enrichment is an inalienable legal right', while Hindustan Times quotes him as 'willing to reach a reassuring agreement on uranium enrichment'. Yeni Safak likewise notes the talks were 'limited strictly to the nuclear issue', and the New York Post summarizes Tehran’s stance as 'refusing to compromise on nuclear enrichment'.
Iran's warning to U.S. bases
Tehran issued a calibrated security warning to Washington, saying Iran would not — and could not — strike U.S. soil but would retaliate against U.S. military installations in the region if attacked. PressTV reports Araghchi warned that "if the United States carries out an open strike on Iran, Tehran would retaliate by targeting American military bases in West Asia." Yeni Safak quotes him saying Iran "cannot strike the US homeland but warned that American bases within range would face consequences."
The New York Post framed the message similarly, saying Iran would strike U.S. military bases in the Middle East if President Trump ordered an attack. Hindustan Times records Araghchi's blunt line that "if Iran is attacked again it would strike U.S. bases in the region."
Scope of Iran negotiations
Iranian officials signalled they will only accept talks narrowly focused on the nuclear file and will reject demands that touch Iran's missile programme or regional policies. PressTV quotes Araghchi as saying Iran's missile programme is non-negotiable and that any deal must provide tangible economic benefits. Hindustan Times records his explicit rejection of negotiating limits on Iran's missile programme, calling it a non-negotiable defence matter.
Yeni Safak described the Muscat talks as a good starting point but cautioned that a long road remains to rebuild trust. Hindustan Times and PressTV note that the United States and Israel have pushed to broaden talks to include missiles and support for regional militant groups.
Diplomatic talks amid tensions
The diplomatic exchange unfolded against a background of recent military strikes, protest repression and regional tension, details that different outlets emphasize in distinct ways. Hindustan Times places the talks amid a U.S. military buildup and Iran’s violent crackdowns on protests, citing Iranian authorities’ figure of “3,117 people died (publishing 2,986 names)” and rights groups’ higher tolls (HRANA’s “6,872 verified deaths” and “more than 50,000 arrests”). Hindustan Times also links the talks to the fallout from an unprecedented Israeli bombing campaign that sparked a 12‑day war and U.S. strikes on Iranian sites.
PressTV recalls that five prior rounds of talks had preceded mid‑June U.S.-Israeli airstrikes on Iranian targets and stresses Tehran’s demand that any agreement deliver economic benefits. Yeni Safak highlights the mutual distrust and the prospect of further rounds in Oman.
