Along with Tehran increasing the pace of enrichment, Washington hopes to respond to the offer of direct talks.

The United States expressed hope that Tehran will respond to its offer to hold direct talks on its nuclear program, at a time when the International Atomic Energy Agency said Iran had increased the rate of uranium enrichment.

In statements reported by local media on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Anthony Lincoln said that Washington had offered to negotiate with Iran within the framework of the 5 + 1 group (United States, Great Britain, France, Germany, Russia and China), wishing a positive response from Tehran.

He added, “But the patience of the United States is not unlimited with regard to Iran,” referring to the consultations that are taking place on the matter with Congress and with US allies and partners.

The US statements come in the midst of a state of stagnation, as Tehran and Washington insist that the other side take the first step towards talks that would lead to the reactivation of the nuclear deal.

In the context, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said Monday that his country has not received direct or indirect contacts from the United States regarding the nuclear deal or other files.

Zadeh added that any meeting between Tehran and Washington is subject to a change in US policy of maximum pressure.

For his part, Iranian Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif, during his meeting in Tehran on Monday in Tehran with his Irish counterpart Simon Coveney, as coordinator of the Security Council for the nuclear agreement, stressed the need to lift economic sanctions on Iran before discuss the issue. of nuclear obligations, saying that this is the firm policy of your country.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) informed its member states on Monday that Iran had begun enriching uranium in a third series of centrifuges at the Natanz underground reactor.

According to the statement, the agency confirmed on March 7 that Iran had started pumping natural uranium hexafluoride to the third series, which includes 174 centrifuges.

The statement adds that the fourth series, which also contains 174 centrifuges, has been installed, but has not yet been fed with natural uranium hexafluoride, and a fifth series is currently being installed.

And last December, Iran’s Guardian Council passed a bill to accelerate nuclear activities and restrict inspections of nuclear facilities.

The law requires Iran’s Atomic Energy Authority to start increasing uranium enrichment by at least 20 percent and increase its arsenal of low-enriched uranium.

It should be noted that Iran’s withdrawal from the additional protocol means restricting inspections of facilities by inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency.