Araghchi: Iran ready to accept control of nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions

Iran is ready to accept control of its nuclear program and limits on uranium enrichment in exchange for the lifting of international sanctions, the Iranian foreign minister said today in a column published in the British newspaper The Guardian.

"Iran is ready to conclude a realistic and lasting agreement that provides for rigorous monitoring and limits on enrichment in exchange for the lifting of sanctions," Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi wrote in a column addressed to France, Great Britain and Germany, united within the so-called E3 group.

"Failure to seize this opportunity could have devastating consequences of unprecedented magnitude for the region and beyond," Aragchi added.

In late August, the E3 group launched a mechanism at the UN to reimpose sanctions against Iran, in accordance with the international agreement on controlling Iran's nuclear program, signed in July 2015.

They gave Tehran a month to negotiate over its nuclear program and avoid the reimposition of sanctions.

Recently, the European Union's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kalas, met with Aragchi in Doha, where they discussed "access by International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors to Iranian nuclear sites and the fate of Iran's highly enriched uranium stockpiles."

The 2015 agreement, signed by the E3, the US, China, Russia and Iran, envisaged a reduction in Tehran's nuclear activities.

However, in 2018, during his first term, US President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the agreement and reimposed sanctions on Iran. Tehran then abandoned certain commitments, particularly regarding uranium enrichment.

Western countries suspect Iran is trying to acquire nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this and defends its right to develop a civilian nuclear program.