MOSCOW, April 18, 2025 (BSS/AFP) - Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on 
Friday cast doubt over the intentions of the United States a day before a 
second round of nuclear talks with Washington.

The new round will come a week after the longtime foes held their highest-
level negotiations since US President Donald Trump abandoned a landmark 
nuclear deal in 2018.

"Although we have serious doubts about the intentions and motivations of the 
American side, in any case we will participate in tomorrow's negotiations," 
Araghchi said during a press conference in Moscow with his Russian 
counterpart Sergei Lavrov.

Araghchi will set off on Saturday for Rome for a fresh round of Omani-
mediated talks with US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff.

"We are fully prepared to pursue a peaceful resolution for Iran's peaceful 
nuclear programme," Araghchi said.

Lavrov said Moscow was ready "to play any role that will be useful from 
Iran's point of view and that will be acceptable to the United States."

Russia, which commands the world's largest confirmed arsenal of nuclear 
weapons, has deepened its military ties with Iran since it launched its 
offensive on Ukraine in February 2022.

Western countries including the United States have long accused Iran of 
seeking to acquire nuclear weapons -- an allegation Tehran has consistently 
denied, insisting that its programme is for peaceful civilian purposes.

On Tuesday, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the country's 
military capabilities were off limits in the discussions.

The official IRNA news agency reported Iran's regional influence and its 
missile capabilities -- long criticised by Western governments -- were among 
its "red lines" in the talks.

On Wednesday, the Iranian foreign minister said Iran's enrichment of uranium 
was not up for discussion, after Witkoff called for it to end.

"If there is similar willingness on the other side, and they refrain from 
making unreasonable and unrealistic demands, I believe reaching an agreement 
is likely," Araghchi said during the press conference.

Lavrov emphasised that any potential agreement should only pertain to the 
nuclear issue.

"This is a fundamental point that must be taken into account by those who try 
to burden the negotiations with non-nuclear issues and thus create a very 
risky situation," he said.