TEHRAN: Iran will not send any of its enriched uranium abroad as part of a deal with world powers to ease sanctions over its contested nuclear program, a top Iranian negotiator said Sunday.

Abbas Araghchi’s comments published on Iranian state television’s website came ahead of new negotiations between Iran and the five permanent UN Security Council members and Germany in Geneva on Tuesday and Wednesday.

On Sunday, state television quoted Araghchi as saying “shipping the material abroad is our red line. We do not allow shipment of even one gram of uranium from Iran.”

Araghchi also said Iran will not withdraw “one iota” from its right to enrich uranium — a material needed to make nuclear weapons. His remarks contrasted those of Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani, who last week said Iran would be willing to discuss its “surplus” uranium stockpile with Western powers.