Iran’s foreign minister says a nuclear deal requires US realism and dropping excessive demands, as technical talks continue in Vienna.
TEHRAN: Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the United States must drop its “excessive demands” for a nuclear deal to be reached.
Araghchi made the remarks in a phone call with Egypt’s top diplomat Badr Abdelatty after the latest round of talks between the longtime adversaries.
“Success in this path requires seriousness and realism from the other side and avoidance of any miscalculation and excessive demands,” he said.
He did not specify the demands, but Washington has consistently pointed to Iran’s ballistic missile programme and uranium enrichment capability as key concerns.
US President Donald Trump said Tehran had “already developed missiles that can threaten Europe and our bases overseas”.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also stated Iran “refuses” to discuss its ballistic missile programme, calling it “a big problem”.
Iran maintains its missile programme is purely defensive and its nuclear activities are for peaceful purposes.
The third round of Omani-mediated nuclear talks was held in Geneva, aiming to avert military escalation.
Both sides cited progress, with technical discussions scheduled for Monday in Vienna ahead of an expected fourth round next week.
