Iran’s foreign minister warns of limited window for nuclear diplomacy

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi warned that the opportunity for nuclear negotiations with the West remains, but it is “limited,” following remarks made in a Saturday interview with state television.

Araghchi’s comments come in the wake of a visit by Rafael Grossi, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), who met with high-ranking Iranian officials to discuss the country’s nuclear program. Grossi’s visit is seen as one of the last opportunities for diplomacy before U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January.

“There is still an opportunity for diplomacy, although this opportunity is not much, it is a limited opportunity,” Araghchi said during the interview. His words reflect the growing pressure on Iran to engage in talks with Western powers as the Biden administration’s stance on the nuclear deal remains uncertain.

In 2015, the nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), lifted sanctions on Iran in exchange for limits on its nuclear program. However, former President Donald Trump withdrew the U.S. from the agreement in 2018, reimposing harsh sanctions on Iran. President Biden has maintained these sanctions, while also expressing interest in revisiting the deal, though little progress has been made.

As tensions rise, Araghchi outlined Iran’s approach for the year ahead, acknowledging the sensitive and complicated nature of the situation. “Our nuclear path in the next year will be a sensitive and complicated one, but we are prepared for any scenario and conditions,” he stated, adding that Iran is ready for both “confrontation” and “cooperation,” depending on the direction taken by the West.

During his visit to Iran, IAEA chief Grossi engaged with Araghchi, President Masoud Pezeshkian, and Iran’s nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami. Grossi also toured key uranium enrichment facilities at Natanz and Fordo, signaling growing concerns over Iran’s nuclear activities.

Grossi’s trip comes ahead of a critical meeting of the IAEA’s board of governors later this month. There, Britain, France, and Germany may propose a resolution condemning Iran’s nuclear actions. Araghchi warned that such a resolution would provoke reciprocal actions from Tehran, stating, “If a resolution is passed against us, it will face reciprocal actions by Iran. We will take new measures in our nuclear programme that they will certainly not like.”

With Trump’s return to office expected to take a tougher stance on Iran, diplomatic relations remain fraught. However, speculation about behind-the-scenes efforts to ease tensions surfaced this week, with reports that tech billionaire Elon Musk had met with Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations in an attempt to de-escalate the situation. Araghchi denied these claims, calling the meeting “not wise” and asserting, “Now is not the time for such meetings. There is not a will for it.”

As the U.S. prepares for a shift in leadership, Iran faces an increasingly delicate diplomatic balancing act, with few options remaining before the potential return of a more adversarial approach to its nuclear ambitions.