Iran stands firm on maintaining a nuclear programme

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammed Javad Zarif (left) shakes hands with his Japanese counterpart Fumio Kishida during the joing press conference in Tokyo on Wednesday.

Iran’s Foreign Minister pushed back on Wednesday against calls for deeper cuts to its nuclear program.

Mr. Mohammad Javad Zarif said the West “cannot entertain illusions” of Iran completely ending its uranium enrichment program. Speaking in Tokyo, he also reiterated that his country is not going to give up finishing its heavy-water nuclear reactor.

“We’re not going to close it. We’re not going to dismantle it. We’re not going to close or dismantle anything, that is our red line,” he told a news conference before meetings with the Japanese Prime Minister and Foreign Minister. “But we will address proliferation concerns that people may have.”

Iran is trying to negotiate a deal with the U.S. and five other global powers to scale back its nuclear programme in exchange for a lifting of sanctions. An interim agreement was reached in November, and the parties have begun negotiating a final deal.

Mr. Zarif said some appear to be trying to torpedo the talks, making a veiled reference to the crowd at Mr. Nethanyahu’s speech to the American Israel Public Affairs Committee, “but I don’t think they’ll succeed because there is no other game in town. That’s the only game. That’s the only reasonable game.”

Iran has one completed nuclear plant, built with Russia’s help, and wants 19 more.

“We’re negotiating with Russia on further construction of other nuclear power plants, but it’s not an exclusive environment,” Mr. Zarif said. “Certainly Japan can play a role.”