DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran's right to enrich uranium is not negotiable, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Wednesday, ahead of a second round of talks in Oman this weekend with the United States about Tehran's disputed nuclear programme.
Araqchi was responding to a comment made on Tuesday by the U.S. top negotiator Steve Witkoff, who said Tehran must "stop and eliminate its nuclear enrichment" to reach a deal with Washington.
"We have heard contradictory statements from Witkoff, but real positions will be made clear at the negotiating table," Araqchi said.
"We are ready to build trust regarding possible concerns over Iran's enrichment (of uranium), but the principle of enrichment is not negotiable."
Iran and the U.S. are due to hold a second round of talks in Oman on Saturday over Tehran's escalating nuclear programme, with President Donald Trump threatening military action if there is no deal.
Before the talks, Araqchi will deliver a message from Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei to Russian President Vladimir Putin on a trip to Russia, Iranian state media reported on Wednesday.
The Kremlin on Tuesday declined to comment when asked if Russia was ready to take control of Iran's stocks of enriched uranium as part of a possible future nuclear deal between Iran and the United States.
The Guardian reported that Tehran was expected to reject a U.S. proposal to transfer its stockpile of enriched uranium to a third country such as Russia as part of an agreement that Washington is seeking to scale back Iran's nuclear programme.
(Reporting by Dubai Newsroom; Editing by Ros Russell)
