WASHINGTON — The US has imposed sanctions on three Iranian nationals and one
Iranian entity with ties to Tehran's Organisation of Defensive Innovation and
Research, which is known by its Persian acronym, SPND.
The SPND is the direct successor organisation to Iran's
pre-2004 nuclear weapons program, also referred to as the Amad Project.
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, in a press
statement on Monday, stated that "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."
"Iran continues to substantially expand its nuclear
program and carry out dual-use research and development activities applicable
to nuclear weapons and nuclear weapons delivery systems. Iran is the only
country in the world without nuclear weapons that is producing uranium enriched
to 60 per cent, and it continues to use front companies and procurement agents
to obscure its efforts to acquire dual-use items from foreign suppliers,"
the statement said.
"The United States' actions are intended to delay
and degrade the ability of SPND to conduct nuclear weapons research and
development. Today's actions demonstrate the United States' commitment to
ensuring that Iran never obtains a nuclear weapon," it further added.
The remarks followed after the US and Iran on Sunday
concluded the fourth round of indirect nuclear talks in Oman's capital, Muscat.
"The fourth round of indirect Iran-US negotiations
is concluded; difficult but useful talks to better understand each other's
positions and to find reasonable & realistic ways to address the
differences. Next round will be coordinated and announced by Oman,"
Esmaeil Baqaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson, posted on X.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that
indirect negotiations with the United States in Oman to revive the 2015 nuclear
deal had become "much more serious and frank," while Iranian
President Masoud Pezeshkian rejected US demands for Tehran to dismantle its
nuclear infrastructure.
Araghchi, speaking to Iran's state-run IRIB TV after the
fourth round of negotiations in Oman's capital, said the discussions had
shifted from general topics to more specific proposals.
He characterised the talks as "forward-moving"
but acknowledged the growing complexity of the issues.
Both sides agreed to continue the discussions.
Meanwhile, President Pezeshkian firmly rejected US calls
to dismantle Iran's nuclear infrastructure.
"This is unacceptable. Iran will not relinquish its
peaceful nuclear rights," he declared, reaffirming Tehran's stance that
its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.
