Türkiye’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan has said both the United States and Iran are showing flexibility in efforts to revive a nuclear agreement. However, he warned that expanding negotiations beyond the nuclear file could destabilize the region.
In an interview published Thursday by the Financial Times, Fidan said Washington has signalled a willingness to ease its long-standing demand that Iran halt all uranium enrichment. That issue had remained a major obstacle in previous rounds of diplomacy.
“It is positive that the Americans appear willing to tolerate Iranian enrichment within clearly set boundaries,” Fidan said.
Iran, a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, has consistently defended enrichment as a sovereign right. According to Fidan, Tehran now appears ready to accept limits on enrichment levels and strict inspections, similar to the framework of the 2015 nuclear deal.
“The Iranians now recognise that they need to reach a deal with the Americans, and the Americans understand that the Iranians have certain limits. It’s pointless to try to force them,” he added.
Warning Against Expanding Agenda
Despite the positive signals, Fidan cautioned against broadening the talks to include Iran’s ballistic missile programme and its support for regional armed groups.
“If the US insists on addressing all the issues simultaneously… the result could be another war in the region,” he warned, stressing that overloading negotiations could stall progress even on the nuclear track.
Indirect talks between US envoys and Iranian officials resumed in Muscat last week, marking the first engagement since Washington joined Israel’s 12-day war against Iran in June. Both sides described the discussions as constructive and indicated that further rounds are likely.
Meanwhile, regional powers, including Türkiye, are exploring creative proposals to bridge wider security concerns. Fidan emphasized that rebuilding trust between Iran and its neighbours remains essential for a durable agreement.
