Iran refuses to suspend uranium enrichment

Iran yesterday ruled out suspending its uranium enrichment as part of any nuclear deal with the United States, a key demand from Washington in successive rounds of talks between the foes.

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The issue of enrichment has come into focus in recent weeks, with Iran staunchly defending its right to enrich uranium as part of what it says is a civilian nuclear programme, while the United States wants it to stop.

The negotiations, which began in April, are the highest-level contact between the foes since the United States quit a landmark 2015 nuclear accord during US President Donald Trump's first term.

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