Iran to continue US nuclear talks despite Trump threats: Pezeshkian

TEHRAN, May 17 (AP): Iran's president said his country will continue talks with the United States over its rapidly advancing nuclear program but will not withdraw from its rights because of US threats.

"We are negotiating, and we will negotiate, we are not after war but we do not fear any threat," President Masoud Pezeshkian said during a speech to navy officials broadcast by state television Saturday, reports AP.

"It is not like that they think if they threaten us, we will give up our human right and definite right," Pezeshkian said. "We will not withdraw, we will not easily loose honourable military, scientific, nuclear in all fields."

The negotiations have reached the "expert" level, meaning the sides are trying to reach agreement on the details of a possible deal.

But a major sticking point remains Iran's enrichment of uranium, which Tehran insists it must be allowed to do and the Trump administration increasingly insists the Islamic Republic must give up.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to unleash airstrikes targeting Iran's program if a deal isn't reached. Iranian officials increasingly warn they could pursue a nuclear weapon with their stockpile of uranium enriched to near weapons-grade levels.