President Hassan Rouhani reiterated that his country was ready for negotiations over the country’s nuclear program but warned Iran would not surrender. “Surrender is not permissible and our nation and constitution will not allow it but we have always been ready for just and respectful negotiations,” Rouhani said at a cabinet meeting July 24.
Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action in 2015, ending a decade-long deadlock over Iran’s nuclear program. President Donald Trump pulled the United States from the deal in 2018 and reimposed sanctions, spurring Iran to reduce its nuclear commitments under the JCPOA while still remaining in it. The United Kingdom, Germany and France have since been in talks with the United States and Iran to try to salvage the deal, though with little success.