Iran has warned it may cease cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) if external threats persist, following renewed warnings from U.S. President Donald Trump about potential military action should Tehran fail to agree to a nuclear deal. Ali Shamkhani, an adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, stated that such measures could include expelling IAEA inspectors and relocating enriched materials to undisclosed locations within Iran.
The warning comes as Iranian and American diplomats prepare to meet in Oman on Saturday to discuss Tehran’s nuclear program. While the U.S. insists on direct negotiations, Iran has emphasized that the talks will be indirect, mediated by Oman’s foreign minister.
President Trump, who withdrew the U.S. from the 2015 nuclear agreement during his first term, has reiterated his stance against Iran’s nuclear ambitions. The 2015 deal, designed to limit Iran’s uranium enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, was abandoned by Trump, who subsequently imposed sweeping sanctions on Tehran. Since then, Iran has exceeded the agreement’s limits on uranium enrichment, according to the IAEA.
Western powers have accused Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons capabilities by enriching uranium to levels beyond what is necessary for civilian energy purposes. Tehran, however, maintains that its nuclear program is solely for peaceful energy production.
The upcoming talks in Oman are seen as a critical juncture in U.S.-Iran relations, with Trump warning that failure to reach an agreement would place Iran in “great danger.” Shamkhani’s remarks underscore the heightened tensions, as Iran signals its readiness to take deterrent measures in response to external threats.
May 4, 2025 2:26 pm
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