Pezeshkian: We are ready for nuclear verification, but America is sticking to its red lines
In a significant development regarding the complex Iranian nuclear issue, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian announced his country's full readiness to allow international verification mechanisms to prove that Tehran is not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons. These statements, published on the official website of the Iranian presidency on Tuesday, coincide with a sensitive round of talks between Iranian and American officials in Geneva, aimed at breaking the years-long deadlock.
Tehran's diplomatic messages
Pezeshkian asserted unequivocally, "We are absolutely not seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, and if anyone wants to verify this, we are ready to accept such verification procedures." This statement is interpreted as an Iranian attempt to shift the onus onto the West and demonstrate goodwill to allay growing international concerns about the accelerating pace of Iranian uranium enrichment, particularly in light of the economic pressures imposed on Tehran by Western sanctions.
The American position: conditional diplomacy
On the other hand, commenting directly on the developments, US Vice President-elect J.D. Vance stated that Tehran remains completely unprepared to deal with what he described as the "red lines" drawn by President Donald Trump. Hours after the second round of talks in Geneva, Vance indicated that the diplomatic path remains open, but fraught with challenges.
Vance explained the nature of the negotiations: "In some aspects, things went well, and they agreed to meet later, but in other aspects, it's clear the president has drawn some red lines that the Iranians are still unwilling to accept and address." These red lines typically revolve around uranium enrichment levels, the scope of work for International Atomic Energy Agency inspectors, and the ballistic missile program.
Background of the conflict and the show of force
The complexity of the current situation stems from the United States' unilateral withdrawal from the nuclear agreement (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action) in 2018, and the subsequent gradual Iranian rollback of its nuclear commitments, which has brought uranium enrichment levels close to weapons-grade. The incoming Trump administration seeks to impose a new agreement with stricter terms, which explains Vance's talk of a "military option" as a last resort.
Vance added in a veiled warning: "We will continue to work on that, but of course the president has the authority to determine when diplomacy will reach its conclusion," stressing hope that the point of military confrontation would not be reached, but emphasizing that the final decision remains in the hands of the US president in the event that diplomacy fails to achieve the required guarantees for US national security and Washington's allies in the region.
Regional and international impacts
These negotiations are of paramount importance to regional security in the Middle East; any potential agreement could lead to de-escalation in the region and ease maritime and land tensions. Conversely, the international community, particularly the European powers (the Troika), is watching these talks with caution, as a failure of diplomacy could foreshadow a nuclear arms race in the region that might drastically alter the balance of power and threaten the stability of global energy supplies.
