Iran is prepared to compromise in nuclear talks with the US if sanctions are lifted, but the issue of "zero uranium enrichment" is no longer on the negotiating table, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi said in an interview published by the BBC.
"The ball is in America's court to prove that it seeks an agreement," Takht Ravanchi said, adding that if US intentions are genuine, "I am sure we will be on the path to an understanding." He confirmed that a second round of indirect talks is set to take place Tuesday in Geneva and described previous discussions as having proceeded "more or less in a positive direction," though he cautioned that it was too early to judge the outcome. US President Donald Trump has also described the talks as positive.
Takht Ravanchi said Iran was willing to show flexibility in the negotiations if Washington agreed to lift sanctions. He noted that the demand for "zero enrichment," publicly emphasized by several senior US officials, was no longer being raised at the talks. "The issue of zero enrichment is no longer an issue, and from Iran's perspective it is no longer on the table," he said.
On Saturday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Trump preferred a deal but acknowledged that reaching one with Iran would be "very difficult."
Trump has threatened to use military force if no diplomatic solution is reached to curb Iran's nuclear program. At the same time, the US military has increased its presence in the region, and according to reports, an additional aircraft carrier was sent to the Middle East last week.
The US and Iran held indirect talks earlier this month in Oman. Takht Ravanchi pointed to Tehran's proposal to dilute its stockpile of uranium enriched to 60% as evidence of its willingness to compromise. That level of enrichment, which is close to weapons-grade, has deepened suspicions that the Islamic Republic is moving toward developing nuclear weapons, an allegation Iran consistently denies.
"We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our program if they are ready to talk about sanctions," Takht Ravanchi told the BBC, without elaborating.
Asked whether Iran would agree to remove from its territory its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, estimated at more than 400 kilograms, as it did under the 2015 nuclear deal, Takht Ravanchi replied that it was "too early to say what will happen during the negotiations." Other proposals previously reported in the media include a temporary suspension of uranium enrichment by Tehran.
One of Iran's key demands has been that the talks focus exclusively on the nuclear issue. However, the deputy foreign minister said, "Our understanding is that they have come to the conclusion that if they want an agreement, they should focus on the nuclear issue." If so, that would mark a significant step forward from Tehran's perspective, as it has viewed Washington's maximalist demands for zero enrichment as an obstacle to any potential deal.
Takht Ravanchi reiterated Tehran's refusal to discuss its ballistic missile program with the US delegation, a central demand of Israel, which is within range of those missiles. The inclusion of the missile issue in any future agreement, along with Iran's support for armed organizations across the region, has also been emphasized by US officials, including Rubio.
"When we were attacked by the Israelis and the Americans, our missiles came to our aid. How can we agree to deprive ourselves of our defensive capabilities?" Takht Ravanchi said.
He also questioned the justification for the increased US military buildup in the region and warned that another war would be "traumatic, bad for everyone … everyone will suffer, especially those who initiated the aggression."
"If we feel it is an existential threat, we will respond accordingly," he said. Asked whether Iran would view a US campaign as a battle for its very existence, he replied: "It is not wise even to imagine such a dangerous scenario, because the entire region would descend into chaos." Iran has repeatedly made clear that US military bases in the region would be considered legitimate targets.
Senior Iranian officials are engaged in intensive discussions with counterparts across the region, who in turn have been speaking with President Trump about the urgency of avoiding a war with far-reaching consequences. Iran has repeatedly accused Israel of trying to sabotage the negotiating track.
"We hope we can achieve this through diplomacy, although we cannot be 100 percent certain," Takht Ravanchi concluded, adding that Iran must "remain vigilant so that we are not caught off guard."
