Iran has again pledged that it is not after a nuclear bomb ahead of talks with the US and has even dangled the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal.
We are not after a nuclear bomb, President Masoud Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran today. You (in the West) have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again.
He also revealed that his excellency Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran, saying today: American investors: Come and invest.
Such a business proposal could draw the interest of US President Donald Trump, who withdrew America from Irans nuclear deal with world powers in his first term and now seeks a new agreement with the country.
Pezeshkians comments represent a departure from Irans stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in which Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred US companies from coming into the country.
The Iranian president, who campaigned on a platform of outreach to the West during his election last year, added that Saturdays talks in Oman between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and US Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be conducted indirectly.
Trump has said the talks would be direct negotiations - something Tehran hasnt ruled out after the first round of discussions.
It comes after Iran said yesterday that a new nuclear deal could be agreed with the US provided Tehrans longtime adversary shows sufficient goodwill in upcoming talks.
President Masoud Pezeshkian (pictured during a rally in February) pledged today that Iran is not after a nuclear bomb and even dangled the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal
US President Donald Trump said that his administration would open talks with Iran during a White House meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, (pictured together on Monday) whose country is an arch foe of Tehran
Araghchi said Irans principal aim remained the lifting of sweeping US sanctions. Their reimposition by Trump in 2018 has dealt a heavy blow to the Iranian economy.
Trump made the surprise announcement that his administration would open talks with Iran during a White House meeting on Monday with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, whose country is an arch foe of Tehran.
Trump said the talks would be direct but Araghchi insisted his negotiations with Witkoff on Saturday would be indirect.
We will not accept any other form of negotiation, Araghchi told official media. The format of the negotiations... is not the most important thing in my view. What really counts is the effectiveness or otherwise of the talks.
If the other side shows enough of the necessary willingness, a deal can be found, he said. The ball is in Americas court.
In tough messaging ahead of the meeting, US State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce insisted that Witkoff would deliver a message against Irans nuclear program and not look for a back and forth.
On Saturday, theres a meeting. Theres no negotiations, she said.
Trump said Monday that Iran would be in great danger if the talks fail.
Iranians burn an American flag during a gathering in support of Gaza, in Tehran, Iran today
Men walk past a mural depicting the Statue of Liberty with the torch-bearing arm broken, painted on the outer walls of the former US embassy in Tehran on April 8, 2025
Following his meeting with Trump, Netanyahu said in a video statement on Tuesday that we agree that Iran will not have nuclear weapons.
This can be done in an agreement, but only if... they go in, blow up (Irans) facilities, dismantle all the equipment, under American supervision, he said, adding that if talks drag on, then the military option becomes inevitable.
Trump threatened military action against Tehran during an interview with NBC late last month, saying: If they dont make a deal, there will be bombing.
China and Russia held consultations with Iran in Moscow yesterday, after which the Kremlin welcomed the planned talks.
Key Iranian ally Russia welcomed the prospect of negotiations for a new nuclear accord, which would replace the deal with major powers that was unilaterally abandoned by Trump in 2018.
Of course, this can only be welcomed because it can lead to de-escalation of tensions around Iran, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Moscow absolutely supported the initiative.
China called on the US to stop its wrong practice of using force to exert extreme pressure after Trump threatened Iran with bombing if it fails to agree a deal.
As the country that withdrew from the nuclear deal, the United States should demonstrate political sincerity (and)... mutual respect, its foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian said.
Pezeshkian also revealed today that his excellency Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei (pictured in March) has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran
That deal saw Iran receive relief from international sanctions in return for restrictions on its nuclear activities overseen by the UN watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Trumps withdrawal from the deal was followed by an Iranian decision one year later to stop complying with its own obligations under the deal.
The result has been that Iran has built up large stocks of highly enriched uranium that leave it a short step from weapons grade.