New Delhi, May 15 — Iranian Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araghchi said Iran has ‘never wanted nuclear weapons’ and reiterated Tehran’s commitment to a peaceful nuclear program, while acknowledging that talks with Washington over enriched uranium have reached a temporary deadlock.
Speaking at a press conference during the 18th BRICS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi, Araghchi recalled Iran’s adherence to the 2015 nuclear accord and noted that the United States withdrew from that deal in 2018 under President Donald Trump, calling it defective.
‘Armenia’? (Note: removed stray word)
Araghchi stressed that Iran’s policy is not to pursue nuclear arms and that signing the 2015 agreement demonstrated that intent. He said Tehran has repeatedly stated its peaceful nuclear aims and remains prepared to take confidence-building measures.
The main point of friction with the United States, Araghchi said, is how to manage Iran’s stockpile of enriched uranium. The two sides have essentially put that topic on hold because it is highly complex; both agreed to postpone it to later stages of negotiations until a workable approach can be found.
He added that further consultations with Russia may help resolve the impasse, but for now the enriched material question is not being actively negotiated.
On regional cooperation, Araghchi praised the Chabahar Port project as a key example of Iran-India partnership. Despite delays caused in the past by US sanctions, he expressed confidence that Chabahar could become a ‘golden gate’ for India to reach Central Asia, the Caucasus and Europe.
Araghchi also suggested that India’s strong international reputation positions it to play a larger role in promoting peace and security in the Persian Gulf. He described bilateral ties with India as deep and multifaceted—rooted in history as well as political, economic and cultural links—and said Tehran is determined to continue fostering good relations with New Delhi.
