US President Donald Trump claimed that Iran has agreed not to develop nuclear weapons, but warned that this stance could still change in the future.
According to Trump, the commitment is one of the main conditions in the ongoing negotiations between Washington and Tehran.
He stressed that the US cannot allow Iran to have nuclear weapons even though relations between the two countries show signs of recovery.
However, the claim received a different reaction from the Iranian side. An Iranian government official described Trump’s statement as misleading and stressed that the country’s nuclear program has always been peaceful.
Tehran also insisted that Iran has never sought to develop nuclear weapons and remains in compliance with its obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
The development comes as the conflict between the US and Iran approaches 100 days without any lasting peace agreement.
Although negotiations are still ongoing, both sides have frequently issued contradictory statements about the progress of the process.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran was now showing a willingness to discuss some aspects of its nuclear program, something he said had not happened in recent years.
The situation was seen as a positive sign for the chances of reaching a diplomatic solution.
At the same time, energy markets continued to monitor developments in the Strait of Hormuz, a vital route for world oil trade.
Iran's threat to close the strait following alleged ceasefire violations continued to raise concerns about global energy supplies.
Uncertainty about the conflict and the peace talks has kept oil prices high, although they are still below $100 a barrel. The market is now waiting to see whether talks between the two countries can produce a more stable solution in the near term.
