U.S. steps up pressure ahead of follow-up talks on the 26th
Iranian president says he has a "favorable outlook" on negotiations
Tehran maintains stance that it cannot give up nuclear capabilities
U.S. Vice President Jd Vance on the 25th (local time) urged Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei to accept the U.S. principle of “no nuclear weapons for Iran.” His remarks amounted to renewed pressure on Tehran one day before follow-up talks with Iran.
In an interview with Fox News the same day, Vice President Vance said, “Iran cannot possess nuclear weapons. It is very simple,” adding, “I believe Iran’s Supreme Leader and every member of that regime need to understand this.”
He continued, “We have made this clear, and we hope to reach a good resolution without the use of military force. But if we have to use military force, the president also has that authority,” he warned.
He stressed that if Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons, it will “ultimately become a military target,” adding, “We must reach a point where the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism cannot threaten the world with nuclear terrorism.” He added, “I think most Americans understand that we cannot allow the craziest and worst regime in the world to possess nuclear weapons.”
Vice President Vance said he prefers to resolve issues through diplomacy, adding, “I hope Iran will take my warning seriously in tomorrow’s negotiations.”
The United States and Iran will meet in Geneva, Switzerland, on the 26th to hold follow-up negotiations. The Trump administration is continuing talks while demanding that Iran halt its development of nuclear weapons and related activities.
According to state-run IRNA news agency, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said that day, “I have a favorable outlook on the negotiations.”
President Pezeshkian said, “Under the leadership of the Supreme Leader, we are continuing this process so that we can move beyond a situation that is neither war nor peace.”
Some reports say Iran believes that yielding to the U.S. demand to abandon uranium enrichment would be more dangerous to the survival of its regime than war. There are also assessments that if these talks break down, U.S. President Donald Trump is highly likely to decide on a military operation against Iran.
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