Iran must retain its uranium enrichment activities and the country will not make any concessions on this matter, the country's Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said at a press conference in Tehran on Monday.
"Uranium enrichment is an integral part of Iran's peaceful nuclear energy and nuclear industry, and must be maintained. We will not make the slightest concession in this regard. Therefore, all parties, including Oman, including Oman, will certainly take this red line into account in proposing suggestions," Baghaei said.
Iran and the United States held five rounds of Oman-mediated indirect talks from April 12 to May 23 on Tehran's nuclear program and the lifting of U.S. sanctions, three of which in Oman's Muscat and two in Rome.
In recent days, U.S. officials have repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran.
According to Baghaei, the time and location for the next round of negotiations between Iran and the U.S. is yet to be determined. Iran is now in consultations with Oman, and Oman will announce the time and location of the next round of talks after consulting with the U.S.
Iran's President Masoud Pezeshkian said on Monday that Iran will continue to survive even if nuclear talks with the United States fail to reach an agreement. He emphasized that even if the U.S. refuses to continue negotiations or still imposes sanctions on Iran, the country will find a way to cope with it.
In response to Israel's previous threats to strike Iran's nuclear facilities, Iranian Army Chief Commander Major General Abdolrahim Mousavi said on Monday that Iran is fully prepared to counter any Israeli attack.
Iran not to concede on uranium enrichment: spokesman
Iran not to concede on uranium enrichment: spokesman
Iran not to concede on uranium enrichment: spokesman
China on Wednesday condemned the Philippines' "thief crying stop thief" behavior after Manila organized vessels to illegally intrude into the lagoon of China's Xianbin Jiao in the South China Sea.
Jiang Bin, a spokesperson for China's Ministry of National Defense, made the remarks in response to Philippines' false accusations about Chinese maritime law enforcement actions against Philippine personnel near Xianbin Jiao.
Jiang said that the Philippines deliberately organized and dispatched a large number of vessels to intrude into the lagoon of Xianbin Jiao illegally. Personnel on the Philippine vessels even brandished knives to threaten Chinese coast guard officers conducting lawful operations, an act that was "utterly egregious in nature".
"The measures taken by the Chinese side were necessary actions to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests," the spokesperson emphasized. "They were reasonable, lawful, professional, and restrained."
"In the face of clear facts, certain people on the Philippine side are blatantly distorting the facts, making excuses to deny their own infringement and provocation. They even turned around to accuse China, which is completely reversing right and wrong and crying thief while being one themselves," said Jiang.
"For some time, the Philippine side has repeatedly stirred up incidents at sea, staging self-directed and self-staged farces, deliberately smearing and accusing China, agitating the situation in the South China Sea and undermining regional stability. We solemnly warn the Philippine side that playing the victim, hyping up and sensationalizing the issue will not change the nature of its illegal infringements, nor will it mislead the international community or shake China's resolve to safeguard its rights in accordance with the law. China will continue to take firm and effective measures to resolutely respond to all acts of infringement and provocation," he continued.
China reaffirms sovereignty over Xianbin Jiao, denounces Philippines' false accusations
