Iran will not stop enriching uranium, President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Sunday, as peace talks continued in Switzerland on Sunday.
Iranian state TV quoted Pezehskian as saying Iran “has not and will never back down from its fundamental right to uranium enrichment.” He also said the US “has been forced to accept” the demand.
Another news outlet said Pezeshkian has promised Iran will not use enriched uranium to make weapons.
The provocative remarks came as Vice President JD Vance and other US representatives met with Iran’s parliamentary speaker and foreign minister at a resort in the Swiss mountains.
Mediators from Pakistan and Qatar are also present.
Vice President Vance has said the talks are an opportunity to reset the relationship between the US and Iran, which has been openly hostile since the Shah was deposed in 1979.
“Can we change relations in the Middle East permanently, or do we go back to doing things the old way, which is not our preference, but is certainly very much something that can happen,” Vance said on Sunday.
He continued: “The opening of the Strait of Hormuz, the ending of the Iranian nuclear program, all of these things have already been accomplished. The question before us now is, how much more can we accomplish together? Can we turn over a new leaf?”
President Trump has, however, left the door open to new strikes if the negotiations fail.
On Sunday, he issued a warning to Iran on Truth Social.
“Iran must immediately stop their highly paid PROXIES in Lebanon from causing trouble. If they don’t, we’ll hit Iran very hard again, just like we did last week, only harder!!!”
A memorandum of understanding to begin formal peace negotiations was signed this week and included a provision for Israel to halt military operations in southern Lebanon.
But less than a day after a ceasefire was announced between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli forces launched attacks that killed 16 people, putting the Switzerland summit in jeopardy.
Vance was originally due to fly to Switzerland on Friday, but Iran cancelled the talks.
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“We will nuke the entire world if we ever feel threatened.” -Israel
“Iran cannot have a nuke. They’re too dangerous.” -Israel