Iran's president insists Tehran does not seek a nuclear bomb and dangles US business opportunities

TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran's president again pledged Wednesday that his nation is “not after a nuclear bomb” ahead of talks between Tehran and the United States, going as far as dangling the prospect of direct American investment in the Islamic Republic if the countries can reach a deal.

The comments by reformist President Masoud Pezeshkian represent a departure from Iran's stance after its 2015 nuclear deal with world powers, in which Tehran sought to buy American airplanes but in effect barred U.S. companies from coming into the country.

“His excellency has no opposition to investment by American investors in Iran," Pezeshkian said in a speech in Tehran, referring to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. "American investors: Come and invest.”

Such a business proposal could draw the interest of U.S. President Donald Trump, who withdrew America from Iran’s nuclear deal with world powers in his first term and now seeks a new agreement with the country.

Pezeshkian, who campaigned on a platform of outreach to the West during his election last year, also added that Saturday's talks in Oman between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and U.S. Mideast envoy Steve Witkoff would be conducted “indirectly.” Trump has said the talks would be direct negotiations — something Tehran hasn't ruled out after the first round of discussions.

“We are not after a nuclear bomb," Pezeshkian added. “You (in the West) have verified it 100 times. Do it 1,000 times again.”

In 2015, Khamenei opposed importing American consumer goods into Iran.

“We neither allow economic influence, nor political influence and presence as well as cultural influence by Americans in our country,” he said then. “We will confront it by all means, we will not allow.”

But after Trump’s comments on the talks went public, Iran’s ailing economy showed new signs of life. Its rial currency, which hit a record low of over 1 million rials to the dollar, rebounded Tuesday to 990,000 rials.

Iran’s economy has been severely affected by international sanctions, particularly after Trump unilaterally withdrew America from Tehran’s nuclear deal with world powers in 2018. At the time of the 2015 deal, which saw Iran drastically limit its enrichment and stockpiling of uranium in exchange for lifting of international sanctions, the rial traded at 32,000 to the dollar.

There also appeared to be a direct influence from the top on how hard-line media reported the upcoming talks Wednesday as there was no criticism of the negotiations whatsoever — something highly unusual in Iran's fractious internal politics.

“At first, Iran may unilaterally accept a decrease in enrichment. This should not be considered a withdrawal," the hard-line newspaper Javan, believed to be close to the country's paramilitary Revolutionary Guard, said in an editorial.

"Keeping the nuclear industry and enrichment that meets our needs is what we have been saying and seeking for years. In return for a decrease of the level of enrichment and an increase of monitoring, Iran should gain concessions on lifting all sanctions and stopping open hostility through the support to the opposition” by the U.S.

Pezeshkian himself spoke at an event marking Iran's National Nuclear Technology Day, which in the past had seen Tehran show off advances in centrifuge technology that worried the West. This year it focused on medical applications and other projects.

However, not everyone agrees with the U.S. outreach. There had been anger toward Trump from Iran’s theocracy, particularly over his decision to launch a drone strike that killed prominent Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani in Baghdad in 2020. U.S. officials have said Trump faced assassination threats from Iran in the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election.

A protest in Tehran on Wednesday drew some hundreds people and saw demonstrators burn an effigy of the U.S. flag, chanting both “Death to America!" and “Death to Israel!” Fake coffins for Israeli officials including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu sat to one side as protesters also carried signs decrying the death of civilians in the Israel-Hamas war in the Gaza Strip.

“Negotiations with whom? With a murderer? With an occupier?" asked one woman holding a “Death to Israel” placard who declined to give her name at the protest for fear of reprisal. “We should keep these in mind. They always show their true nature.”

Gambrell reported from Dubai, United Arab Emirates.

Iranian protesters burn representations of the Israeli flag during a demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian protesters chant slogans as one of them holds up a poster of Lebanon's Hezbollah former leader Hassan Nasrallah, who was killed by Israel, during an anti-Israeli demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

An Iranian protester waves the Palestinian flag in front of the portraits of Lebanon's Hezbollah former leader Hassan Nasrallah, left, who was killed by Israel and the late Iranian Revolutionary Guard Gen. Qassem Soleimani, who was killed in a U.S. drone attack in 2020, during an anti-Israeli demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A member of the Iranian Basij paramilitary force tramples on a burnt representation of the U.S. flag during an anti-Israeli demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian protesters attend an anti-Israeli demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian protesters chant slogans as they hold Palestinian flags while some of them wear white shrouds, a symbolic gesture that shows they are prepared to die for their cause, during an anti-Israeli demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian protesters chant slogans as they wave Palestinian and their country's flags during an anti-Israeli demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Replicas of some missiles are carried on a truck during an anti-Israel demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Replicas of some missiles are carried on a truck during an anti-Israel demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

The symbolic shrouded bodies of Palestinian children are displayed during an anti-Israel demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian protesters burn representations of the Israeli flag during a demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

A huge Palestinian flag hangs on a mosque during an anti-Israel protest at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian protesters chant slogans as they wave Iranian and Palestinian flags during an anti-Israel demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian protesters chant slogans as they wave their country's flags during an anti-Israel demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

An Iranian protester waves her country's flag during an anti-Israeli demonstration at the Felestin (Palestine) Sq. in Tehran, Iran, Wednesday, April 9, 2025. (AP Photo/Vahid Salemi)

FILE - In this photo released by the Iranian Presidency Office, President Masoud Pezeshkian speaks during a rally commemorating anniversary of 1979 Islamic Revolution that toppled the late pro-U.S. Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and brought Islamic clerics to power, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, Feb. 10, 2025. (Iranian Presidency Office via AP, file)

MIAMI (AP) — Here's a guide what you need to know about Sunday's Miami F1 Grand Prix. It's the sixth round of the 2025 Formula 1 season.

— In the U.S., on ABC.

— Other countries are listed here.

— Friday: First practice and qualifying for the sprint race.

— Saturday: Sprint race and qualifying for the Grand Prix.

— Sunday: Miami Grand Prix, 57 laps of the 5.4-kilometer (3.4-mile) Miami International Autodrome. Starts at 4 p.m. ET (2000 GMT).

The Miami International Autodrome brings a Florida party vibe to F1 with yachts set up on a mock harbor trackside as VIP viewing platforms. It's the fourth time F1 has visited the temporary track, which loops around Hard Rock Stadium. Overtaking can be difficult and barriers close to the track punish mistakes. Max Verstappen won the first two races in Miami but last year there was a statement win for Lando Norris and McLaren. Heat and tire wear could favor McLaren again this year.

Oscar Piastri won the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to become the first Australian to lead the F1 standings since 2010. The key moment was at the first corner when Piastri challenged Verstappen for the lead and the Dutch driver went off track and rejoined in front. Verstappen was given a penalty and lost the lead at his pit stop. McLaren remains the top team on all-round pace. Red Bull, Ferrari and McLaren have all challenged for wins on different tracks but haven't adapted well when conditions don't suit their cars.

Get caught up:

— Max Verstappen delighted at birth of his first child with partner Kelly Piquet

— No team orders: McLaren plans to ‘let ‘em race’ as Piastri and Norris battle for F1 championship

— Russell not impressed by FIA hinting at relaxing rules against cursing and code of driver conduct

— McLaren driver Oscar Piastri wins F1’s Saudi Arabian Grand Prix to take overall lead

— ‘I cannot share my opinion’: Max Verstappen stays tight-lipped on race-deciding penalty

— Is the punishment for cursing in F1 too harsh? Racing boss hints at changes after driver backlash

— General Motors’ plans to supply Formula 1 engines from 2029 are approved by the FIA

— FIA president Mohammed Ben Sulayem picks a longtime Ford partner for top sports role

3 — Oscar Piastri is aiming for his third win in a row. The last Australian driver to achieve that feat in F1 was Alan Jones in 1981.

0/3 — None of Miami's three Grand Prix races so far have been won by the driver who started on the pole. Norris won last year from fifth on the grid.

77 — McLaren's lead in the constructors' championship over Mercedes, the only other team with even half of McLaren's 188-point haul.

“Let ’em race.” — McLaren boss Zak Brown on the championship battle between Oscar Piastri and Lando Norris.

“We (drivers) are clear we want changes. And once they are implemented, then we’ll comment.” — George Russell on relaxing rules against cursing and code of driver conduct.

“I want to be leading (the championship) after round 24, not round five.” — Oscar Piastri.

“You can’t share your opinion because it’s not appreciated, apparently, or people can’t handle the full truth.” — Max Verstappen refuses to discuss his crucial penalty at the Saudi Arabian Grand Prix.

“We just need a better car.” — Ferrari's Charles Leclerc after finishing third in Saudi Arabia.

AP auto racing: https://apnews.com/hub/auto-racing

Race winner McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia, second right, poses with second placed Red Bull driver Max Verstappen of the Netherlands, left, and third placed Ferrari driver Charles Leclerc of Monaco, right, after the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia celebrates after winning the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia celebrates after winning the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, April 20, 2025.(AP Photo/Altaf Qadri)

McLaren driver Oscar Piastri of Australia celebrates on the podium after winning the Formula One Saudi Arabian Grand Prix at the Jeddah Corniche Circuit in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Sunday, April 20, 2025. (AP Photo/Darko Bandic)