AhlulBayt News Agency: An Iranian deputy foreign minister categorically rules out transfer of any enriched nuclear material from the Islamic Republic to the United States following controversial remarks made on the issue by President Donald Trump.
"I can tell you that no enriched material is going to be shipped to United States," Saeed Khatibzadeh told the Associated Press in an interview on Saturday.
"This is [a] non-starter and I can assure you that, while we are ready to address any concerns that we do have, we’re not going to accept things that are nonstarters," he added.
Earlier, Trump had claimed that the US would go into Iran and "get all the nuclear dust," with some interpreting the remarks to be referring to Iran's highly-enriched uranium.
Khatibzadeh also noted that, following the previous round of negotiations that was held between the two sides in the Pakistani capital Islamabad earlier this month, the United States' "maximalist" demands from Iran have been preventing taking place of another round of talks.
"We are still not there yet to move on to an actual meeting because there are issues that the Americans have not yet abandoned their maximalist position," he stated.
The Islamic Republic, the official added, was seeking finalization of a "framework agreement" before heading into to another round of negotiations.
On April 7 and prior to the Islamabad negotiations, Trump announced a two-weak lull in unprovoked aggression targeting Iran. Making the announcement, Trump said a 10-point ceasefire proposal forwarded by Iran was a "workable basis on which to negotiate and the main framework" for talks with the Islamic Republic.
Among other things, the proposal mandates realization of a conclusive end to whatever instance of aggression against the Islamic Republic, removal of unlawful sanctions targeting the country, and provision of compensation for the damages caused by American-Israeli aggression.
Since the talks, however, the United States has refused to lift a naval blockade it has been seeking to impose on Iranian ports and vessels as a means of trying to exercise pressure on the Islamic Republic.
Also on Saturday, the Islamic Republic announced closure of the strategic Strait of Hormuz in retaliation, denouncing the US's intransigence as a violation of the conditions of the ceasefire.
Addressing the issue of Washington's coercive economic measures targeting the Islamic Republic, Khatibzadeh said, "The other sides also should understand and address our main concerns, which are illegal unilateral sanctions that Americans have imposed on Iranians."
"This economic terrorism has targeted Iranian people to suffocate them and make them to revolt against the political structure inside Iran," he added.
The official also reiterated the Islamic Republic's assertion as part of its proposal that any cessation of aggression should encompass all fronts, including Lebanon, stressing that Tehran would respond duly should the Israeli regime continue to target the country.
"Iran has no option, just to stop aggressors once and forever."
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