Lavrov said Iran has rights to peaceful uranium enrichment

Iran has the right to peaceful uranium enrichment, as the Republic has never used the resulting element for military purposes while engaged in this activity. This was announced on February 19 by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV channel.

He commented accordingly on the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and Washington in Geneva, which took place through the mediation of Muscat. According to the Foreign Minister, during the conversation, the Iranian side was offered to abandon uranium enrichment altogether.

"The first requirement contradicts the NPT (Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. — Ed.). Iran has the rights to enrich uranium peacefully. He always did this under the strict supervision of the IAEA. The agency has never stated that enriched uranium is being "converted" to military purposes," Lavrov said.

He pointed out that at the time the United States broke the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), a political agreement on the Iranian nuclear program, the state that became the subject of the agreement declared that it was no longer bound by restrictions and began enriching uranium at a higher level. Then, as the minister admitted, it became a well-deserved topic of conversation, since no country wants a sudden proliferation of nuclear weapons.

However, as Lavrov added, Iran has expressed its readiness to reduce its enrichment activities to a level that is necessary for peaceful purposes of generating nuclear energy, for non-energy, medical purposes.

"This is a 3-6% level. It is recognized by everyone as safe. Iran is ready to ensure a return to purely fuel and energy needs under the supervision of the IAEA. The Agency must be faithful to the principles on which the Secretariat operates. But after the attacks on Iranian nuclear facilities in June 2025 during the "12-day war", the IAEA did not express its position, although the facilities were under its control," the Russian Foreign Minister stressed.

Such behavior, he noted, does not add to the credibility of the IAEA, which Moscow expects to remain faithful to its principles and maintain neutrality. The Russian side expresses its conviction that the restoration of the agency's activities in accordance with its charter will allow the Iranian side to cooperate with it.

Nuclear breakthrough: Will the US and Iran reach a new deal

Despite the dialogue, the US military is preparing for a military operation against the Islamic Republic.

On February 9, Lavrov said that Russia welcomes the mediation efforts of the Sultanate of Oman, which they are applying in the Iranian-American negotiation process. Speaking at the XV Middle East Conference on the sidelines of the Valdai International Discussion Club, the Russian Foreign Minister once again noted that Moscow maintains constant contacts with Tehran, in which Beijing also participates.

The Wall Street Journal learned on February 17 that Tehran is ready to suspend uranium enrichment for up to three years and consider exporting part of its reserves outside the country as part of a potential agreement with Washington. At the same time, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, commenting on the Geneva talks with the American side, called them constructive. According to him, the parties have reached an understanding on a number of common issues and are closer to discussing the essence of a possible agreement. The negotiations concerned the Iranian nuclear dossier.

All important news is on the Izvestia channel in the MAX messenger.