Its supreme leader Iran Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said today that reaching an agreement with the West on nuclear activities Tehran possibly as long as Iran’s nuclear industry infrastructure remains intactreported by the state media.

“There is nothing wrong with a deal (with the West), but the infrastructure of our nuclear industry must remain intact,” he said, adding that Tehran should continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency under safeguards.

Indirect talks between Tehran and Washington to revive the 2015 nuclear deal between the Islamic Republic and six major powers have stalled since September, with both sides accusing the other of making unfounded demands.

In 2019, Iran began violating the terms of the agreement after the US withdrew from it in 2018. The decision to withdraw the United States was made by then President Donald Trump.

The 2015 agreement limited Iran’s uranium enrichment activities to make it harder for Tehran to develop nuclear weapons, in exchange for lifting international sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Iran denies it wants nuclear weapons.

Both Tehran and Washington on Thursday denied reports that they were close to a temporary deal that would see Tehran tie up its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.

Source: APE-Reuters.