Three Iranian nationals and one Iranian organization with connections to Tehran’s Organization of Defensive Innovation and Research, or SPND in Persian, have been sanctioned by the United States.
Iran’s pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, also known as the Amad Project, has a direct descendant in the SPND.
According to a press release issued by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Monday, “all individuals sanctioned are involved in activities that materially contribute to, or pose a risk of materially contributing to, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.”
In addition to conducting dual-use research and development activities relevant to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems, Iran is still significantly growing its nuclear program. Iran is the only non-nuclear nation in the world that produces 60% enriched uranium, and it still uses procurement agents and front businesses to hide its attempts to buy dual-use goods from overseas vendors, the statement claimed.
“The goal of the United States’ activities is to hinder and hinder SPND’s capacity to carry out nuclear weapons research and development. The United States is committed to making sure Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon, as evidenced by today’s measures,” the statement continued.
The comments came after the US and Iran wrapped up their fourth session of indirect nuclear negotiations in Muscat, the capital of Oman, on Sunday.
“The fourth round of indirect Iran-US talks has ended; these were challenging but fruitful discussions to better understand one another’s stances and to identify practical and reasonable solutions to the disagreements. Oman will organize and announce the next round,” Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei wrote on X.
Indirect talks with the United States to resurrect the 2015 nuclear deal in Oman have grown “much more serious and frank,” according to Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi, while Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian rebuffed US demands that Tehran destroy its nuclear equipment.
After the fourth session of talks in the capital of Oman, Araghchi told Iran’s state-run IRIB TV that the talks had moved from broad subjects to more detailed ideas.
Although he acknowledged the challenges’ increasing complexity, he described the discussions as “forward-moving.”
The parties decided to carry on the conversation.
President Pezeshkian, meantime, vehemently denied US demands to demolish Iran’s nuclear program.
“This is not acceptable. He reiterated Tehran’s position that its nuclear program is for civilian uses and said, “Iran will not give up its peaceful nuclear rights.”
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