As concerns grow over a security crisis in the Middle East amid fears of a breakdown in nuclear negotiations between the United States and Iran, U.S. President Donald Trump has stated that he intends to resolve the issue through dialogue and negotiation.
On June 12 (local time), President Trump wrote on the social networking service Truth Social, "We remain committed to resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through a 'Diplomatic Resolution.'"
President Trump stated, "My entire administration has been directed to proceed with negotiations with Iran," and emphasized, "For Iran to become a great nation, it must completely abandon any hope of possessing nuclear weapons."
Since the inauguration of the second Trump administration, the United States and Iran have met for negotiations five times, and the sixth round is scheduled to take place on June 15 in Muscat, the capital of Oman, which is acting as a mediator. Up to the fifth round, Iran has refused the U.S. demand for a complete halt to uranium enrichment, which is used as fuel for nuclear weapons, raising concerns about a breakdown in the negotiations and increasing fears of a security crisis in the Middle East.
Meanwhile, ahead of the nuclear talks with the United States, Iran strongly protested the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)'s adoption of a resolution on this day condemning Iran's failure to fulfill its nuclear inspection and verification obligations. This is the first time in 20 years since 2005, when the Iranian nuclear crisis escalated, that the IAEA has adopted a resolution on Iran's non-compliance with its safeguards agreement obligations. In response, both the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) stated, "We have no choice but to respond to this political resolution."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi commented on the upcoming negotiations with the United States scheduled for June 15, saying, "Although the new resolution by the (IAEA) Board of Governors will make the discussions more complicated, we will be in Muscat to defend the rights of the Iranian people."
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