The United States and Iran are in contact over the resumption of talks on Tehran’s nuclear programme, but no formal negotiations are yet planned, officials on both sides said on June 26.
Washington is “in close communication” with Iran and its mediators, White House spokeswoman Caroline Leavitt told a briefing, while Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told state broadcaster IRIB that diplomacy is ongoing and contacts are taking place through various channels.
Araqchi added that “no agreement, arrangement or talk of starting new talks has been reached.”
Iran is currently assessing what is best for its national interests, Araqchi said, adding that “speculation” that Tehran will sit down at the negotiating table “should not be taken seriously.”
US President Donald Trump, speaking at the NATO summit in The Hague on 25 June, said Washington would hold talks with Tehran next week.
The sixth round of talks between the US and Iran in Oman, scheduled for June 15, was cancelled after Israeli forces struck Iranian targets on June 13.
In comments to IRIB, Araqchi confirmed that last weekend’s attacks by US troops caused “significant” damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure.
Araqchi’s comments came after Iran’s constitutional oversight body, the Guardian Council, on 26 June approved a parliamentary decision to suspend Tehran’s cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The final decision on the law, which was passed in parliament a day earlier, must be approved by the Supreme National Security Council. This council is technically headed by the president, but like all key government institutions, it reports to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
On 13 June, Israel began strikes on key Iranian nuclear and military sites, as well as residential areas. Iran retaliated with strikes. Dozens of civilians were killed on both sides as a result. On 21 June, the United States struck three Iranian nuclear sites at Fordow, Natang, and Isfahan.
The 12-day conflict ended with a ceasefire between Israel and Iran brokered by the United States on 24 June.
Suspending co-operation with the IAEA would mean Iran would halt inspections, reporting and oversight mandated by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
A bill passed by Iran’s parliament says the suspension of cooperation with the IAEA could be lifted if the safety of Iranian nuclear facilities and scientists is guaranteed and Tehran’s right to enrich uranium domestically is secured. Iran insists its nuclear programme is peaceful and that it does not seek to turn it into a weapon.
Tehran has long accused the IAEA of bias and co-operating with Western powers and Israel against Iran.
Meanwhile, IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi has complained for years about Iran’s lack of co-operation with the agency over old but undeclared nuclear sites.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the “worst-case scenario” would be for Tehran to withdraw from the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
Macron told reporters in Brussels after an EU summit that he would hold talks with the five members of the UN Security Council in the coming days in an attempt to save the treaty.
Iran ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1970, pledging to declare its nuclear material to the International Atomic Energy Agency.