By NATASHA ANDERSON

Published: 15:06 BST, 9 April 2025 | Updated: 15:06 BST, 9 April 2025

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Iran has again pledged that it is 'not after a nuclear bomb' ahead of talks with the US and has even dangled the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal. 'We are not after a nuclear bomb,' President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran today. 'You (in the West) have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again.' He also revealed that 'his excellency' Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei 'has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran', saying today: 'American investors: Come and invest.'

Iran has again pledged that it is ‘not after a nuclear bomb’ ahead of talks with the US and has even dangled the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal. ‘We are not after a nuclear bomb,’ President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran today. ‘You (in the West) have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again.’ He also revealed that ‘his excellency’ Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei ‘has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran’, saying today: ‘American investors: Come and invest.’

Such a business proposal could draw the interest of US President Donald Trump , who withdrew America from Iran's nuclear deal with world powers in his first term and now seeks a new agreement with the country. Pezeshkian's comments represent a departure from Iran's stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in which Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred US companies from coming into the country. The Iranian president, who campaigned on a platform of outreach to the West during his election last year, added that Saturday's talks in Oman between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be conducted 'indirectly'.

Such a business proposal could draw the interest of US President Donald Trump , who withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in his first term and now seeks a new agreement with the country. Pezeshkian’s comments represent a departure from Iran’s stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in which Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred US companies from coming into the country. The Iranian president, who campaigned on a platform of outreach to the West during his election last year, added that Saturday’s talks in Oman between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be conducted ‘indirectly’.

Trump has said the talks would be direct negotiations - something Tehran hasn't ruled out after the first round of discussions. It comes after Iran said yesterday that a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the US provided Tehran's longtime adversary shows sufficient goodwill in upcoming talks. Araghchi said Iran's principal aim remained the lifting of sweeping US sanctions. Their reimposition by Trump in 2018 has dealt a heavy blow to the Iranian economy.

Trump has said the talks would be direct negotiations – something Tehran hasn’t ruled out after the first round of discussions. It comes after Iran said yesterday that a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the US provided Tehran’s longtime adversary shows sufficient goodwill in upcoming talks. Araghchi said Iran’s principal aim remained the lifting of sweeping US sanctions. Their reimposition by Trump in 2018 has dealt a heavy blow to the Iranian economy.

Trump made the surprise announcement that his administration would open talks with Iran during a White House meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , whose country is an arch foe of Tehran. Trump said the talks would be 'direct' but Araghchi insisted his negotiations with Witkoff on Saturday would be 'indirect'. 'We will not accept any other form of negotiation,' Araghchi told official media. 'The format of the negotiations... is not the most important thing in my view. What really counts is the effectiveness or otherwise of the talks.

Trump made the surprise announcement that his administration would open talks with Iran during a White House meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu , whose country is an arch foe of Tehran. Trump said the talks would be ‘direct’ but Araghchi insisted his negotiations with Witkoff on Saturday would be ‘indirect’. ‘We will not accept any other form of negotiation,’ Araghchi told official media. ‘The format of the negotiations… is not the most important thing in my view. What really counts is the effectiveness or otherwise of the talks.

'If the other side shows enough of the necessary willingness, a deal can be found,' he said. 'The ball is in America's court.' In tough messaging ahead of the meeting, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce insisted that Witkoff would deliver a message against Iran's nuclear program and not look for a back and forth. 'On Saturday, there's a meeting. There's no negotiations,' she said.

‘If the other side shows enough of the necessary willingness, a deal can be found,’ he said. ‘The ball is in America’s court.’ In tough messaging ahead of the meeting, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce insisted that Witkoff would deliver a message against Iran’s nuclear program and not look for a back and forth. ‘On Saturday, there’s a meeting. There’s no negotiations,’ she said.

Trump said Monday that Iran would be in 'great danger' if the talks fail. Following his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu said in a video statement on Tuesday that 'we agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons'. 'This can be done in an agreement, but only if... they go in, blow up (Iran's) facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision', he said, adding that if talks drag on, 'then the military option becomes inevitable'.

Trump said Monday that Iran would be in ‘great danger’ if the talks fail. Following his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu said in a video statement on Tuesday that ‘we agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons’. ‘This can be done in an agreement, but only if… they go in, blow up (Iran’s) facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision’, he said, adding that if talks drag on, ‘then the military option becomes inevitable’.

Trump threatened military action against Tehran during an interview with NBC late last month, saying: 'If they don't make a deal, there will be bombing.' China and Russia held consultations with Iran in Moscow yesterday, after which the Kremlin welcomed the planned talks. Key Iranian ally Russia welcomed the prospect of negotiations for a new nuclear accord, which would replace the deal with major powers that was unilaterally abandoned by Trump in 2018.

Trump threatened military action against Tehran during an interview with NBC late last month, saying: ‘If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing.’ China and Russia held consultations with Iran in Moscow yesterday, after which the Kremlin welcomed the planned talks. Key Iranian ally Russia welcomed the prospect of negotiations for a new nuclear accord, which would replace the deal with major powers that was unilaterally abandoned by Trump in 2018.

'Of course, this can only be welcomed because it can lead to de-escalation of tensions around Iran,' Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Moscow 'absolutely' supported the initiative. China called on the US to 'stop its wrong practice of using force to exert extreme pressure' after Trump threatened Iran with bombing if it fails to agree to a deal. As the country that withdrew from the nuclear deal, 'the United States should demonstrate political sincerity (and)... mutual respect,' its foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

‘Of course, this can only be welcomed because it can lead to de-escalation of tensions around Iran,’ Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Moscow ‘absolutely’ supported the initiative. China called on the US to ‘stop its wrong practice of using force to exert extreme pressure’ after Trump threatened Iran with bombing if it fails to agree to a deal. As the country that withdrew from the nuclear deal, ‘the United States should demonstrate political sincerity (and)… mutual respect,’ its foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.

That deal saw Iran receive relief from international sanctions in return for restrictions on its nuclear activities overseen by the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. Trump's withdrawal from the deal was followed by an Iranian decision one year later to stop complying with its own obligations under the deal. The result has been that Iran has built up large stocks of highly enriched uranium that leave it a short step from weapons grade.

That deal saw Iran receive relief from international sanctions in return for restrictions on its nuclear activities overseen by the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency. Trump’s withdrawal from the deal was followed by an Iranian decision one year later to stop complying with its own obligations under the deal. The result has been that Iran has built up large stocks of highly enriched uranium that leave it a short step from weapons grade.

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Iran insists it is ‘not after a nuclear bomb’



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