IRAN: Foreign Min Backs Up Khamenei's Hardline Stance On Nuclear Enrichment

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has doubled down on hardline comments from Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reported earlier today (see 'IRAN: Khamenei Talks Down US Deal Despite 5th Round Of Talks In The Works', 0934BST). Araghchi, seen as a reformist with a long history of diplomatic engagement, was reported by Iran's Mehr News as saying, "We entered into negotiations for our principles and positions that ensure the rights and interests of the people, and we will not compromise on these rights in any way. We are witnessing completely unreasonable and illogical positions of the Americans; the issue of enrichment is not a negotiable issue at all. I have given a clear answer in the past few days, and today the Leader of the Revolution made the task completely clear."

• Khamenei is no stranger to issuing hardline comments that appear to indicate a belligerent stance from Tehran and little chance that a deal could be reached. Given the strength of the supreme leader's comments, it was always unlikely that any gov't figure would contradict him in the immediate aftermath.
• A fifth round of talks is seen as likely to take place this weekend in Rome. Today's pronouncements from figures at the top of the regime will do little to improve the prospects of a deal. Reuters notes "Last week U.S. President Donald Trump said Tehran needed to "move quickly or something bad is going to happen." The U.S. president has repeatedly warned Iran it would be bombed and face severe sanctions if it did not reach a compromise to resolve its disputed nuclear programme."