Iran says enrichment will proceed with or without a deal as U.S. nuclear talks continue and stockpile levels raise alarms.

Iran Asserts Independence in Nuclear Policy

Iran’s foreign minister declared Sunday that Tehran will continue its nuclear enrichment activities irrespective of any future agreement with the United States. The statement comes amid ongoing nuclear negotiations and shortly after President Donald Trump claimed Iran had “sort of agreed” to the terms of a new deal.

Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi addressed the issue on X, formerly known as Twitter, reaffirming Iran’s commitment to its peaceful nuclear program. He emphasized Iran’s sovereignty over its scientific advancements and criticized what he described as inconsistent public and private messaging from U.S. officials.

“Iran can only control what we Iranians do, and that is to avoid negotiating in public,” Araghchi said, referencing conflicting U.S. statements. “Our stance on Iran's rights as a [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] member is crystal clear.” He further stressed that mastering enrichment technology is a “hard-earned and homegrown scientific achievement.”

“If the U.S. is interested in ensuring that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, a deal is within reach,” he added. “But enrichment in Iran will continue with or without a deal.”

Rising Nuclear Tensions Amid Talks

The minister’s comments follow remarks from President Trump on Friday, stating that a U.S. proposal had been submitted to Tehran. Trump suggested that Iranian leaders understand the urgency of finalizing an agreement, warning that otherwise, “something bad is going to happen.”

Since President Trump returned to office, U.S. and Iranian officials have held four rounds of negotiations, mainly in Oman, aiming to prevent Iran from reaching weapons-grade nuclear capability.

Concerns over Iran’s uranium stockpile continue to grow. In a March report, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) revealed that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% purity had increased from 182 kilograms to 275 kilograms (401 to 606 pounds) in early 2025. The threshold for weapons-grade uranium is 90% enrichment.

Senator Marco Rubio voiced alarm during an appearance on Fox News, saying, “Once you're at 60, you're 90% of the way there. Iran basically has become a threshold nuclear weapons state.” He warned that Iran could quickly weaponize its material if it chose to.

President Trump reiterated his position on Thursday during a visit to the United Arab Emirates. “Iran has sort of agreed to the terms,” he said. “We’re not going to be making any nuclear dust in Iran.”

The unfolding developments signal a precarious moment in U.S.-Iran relations, with diplomacy facing competing pressures from rising enrichment levels and conflicting narratives. While both sides continue to express a willingness to negotiate, the timeline to prevent escalation appears to be narrowing rapidly.