"Highly Enriched Uranium is Not for Sale": Senior Iranian Official Sets Red Lines for U.S. Talks

A senior Iranian official told Al Jazeera that while nuclear negotiations with the United States are ongoing, several core Iranian assets and strategic red lines remain strictly off the table.

According to the official, the current negotiations are focused on three primary pillars:

1. Iran's nuclear obligations.

2. Washington's commitment to lifting sanctions.

3. Future economic cooperation.

The official emphasized that the issue of removing Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium has not been discussed, nor has the prospect of surrendering Iranian mines or oil fields to U.S. control, a suggestion he dismissed as "illogical."

The official cautioned against over-optimism, stating that it would be a mistake to expect "100% success" in the current round of talks. "We must be realistic," he said. "The decision to open negotiations was ours, and their continuation is being carried out in coordination with the relevant authorities according to our established plans."

He said that Tehran is pursuing a dual-track strategy where diplomacy does not come at the expense of defense.

He stated that Iran's armed forces are on "full alert" to counter any external threats by maintaining a high level of deterrence.

He also clarified that the track of negotiations is separate from our preparation for any aggression and warned that any military confrontation would lead to direct strikes against U.S. interests across the Middle East.

He concluded by asserting that Iran's visible military preparation serves as a strategic tool to "reduce the enemy's chance of deceiving us to zero."