VIENNA — Iran drew a red line Tuesday on how far it would go at landmark nuclear talks, saying as the meeting opened that it would not buckle to pressure from the U.S. and five other world powers to scrap any of its nuclear facilities.
The statement by Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi suggested tough talks ahead, constituting a rejection of a central demand by the six countries.
At the same time, neither side can afford to have the talks fail.
Lack of agreement would leave Iran struggling under the weight of harsh economic sanctions and a threat of military strikes by Israel, which sees Iran’s nuclear program as an unacceptable security threat primarily designed to develop weapons.
The United States has promised to protect Israel but said more time is needed for diplomacy and sanctions to try to reduce the threat Israel faces from Iran.
The talks are designed to build on a first-step deal that came into effect last month and commits Iran to initial curbs on its nuclear program in return for some easing of sanctions. The deal can be extended, if both sides agree to do so after six months.
Iran insists it is not interested in producing nuclear weapons, but the six powers want Tehran to back its words with concessions.
“Dismantling (the) nuclear program is not on the agenda,” Araghchi told reporters in Vienna.
The talks are formally led by Catherine Ashton, the EU’s top foreign policy official, and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. The U.S., Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany are also at the table.
Ashton’s spokesman, Michael Mann, warned of the “intensive and difficult work lying ahead of us.”
