Tehran Sets U.S. Renunciation of Attack Plans as Condition to Resume Talks
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister has stated that his country has been denied access to nuclear materials essential for its research program, and it rejects a zero-enrichment policy and threats of attack.
Iran has revealed a key condition for resuming talks with the United States regarding its nuclear program: Washington must renounce any future strike plans on Iranian territory. This reflects the depth of the crisis and the mutual mistrust between both sides.
In an interview aired Monday by the BBC, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said the U.S., through intermediaries, had expressed interest in returning to negotiations but had not clarified its stance on the “very important question” of whether more attacks would occur.
Indirect negotiations between the U.S. and Iran stalled after the sixth round, interrupted by Israel’s military operation launched on June 13. That round was set to take place in Muscat, Oman, two days later.
At last week’s NATO summit, President Donald Trump announced new talks with Iran but offered no details. He had also ordered strikes on three heavily fortified Iranian nuclear facilities.
When asked on Friday whether he would order more strikes if concerns about Iran’s uranium enrichment reemerged, Trump said, “Without a doubt, absolutely.”
He reiterated that Iran must not obtain nuclear weapons and claimed recent strikes had delayed the nuclear program by years.
IAEA Director Rafael Grossi said in a Sunday interview that Iran could resume uranium enrichment within months.
Iran insists its nuclear program is peaceful. Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC that Iran would continue to assert its right to enrich uranium for civilian purposes and rejected accusations of secretly pursuing a bomb.
He said Iran had been “deprived of access to nuclear materials” needed for its research and thus had to “rely on itself.”
He noted that enrichment levels and capacity could be negotiated, “but saying we should have no enrichment at all, that it must be zero, and that if we don’t comply, you’ll attack us—that’s the law of the jungle.”
On June 13, Israel launched strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites, including assassinations of scientists and leaders, citing Tehran’s proximity to producing a nuclear weapon.
Iran responded with missile attacks on Israel. The confrontation lasted twelve days, during which the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.
The extent of damage remains unclear. Takht-Ravanchi said he couldn’t provide a precise assessment, while Grossi said the damage was significant but “not total.” Trump claimed the facilities were “completely destroyed.”
Under the 2015 nuclear deal, Iran was barred from enriching uranium beyond 3.67% purity and prohibited from enriching at Fordow for 15 years.
Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, arguing it didn’t do enough to prevent a nuclear bomb, and reimposed U.S. sanctions on Tehran.
Iran then violated enrichment limits, resuming activities at Fordow in 2021 and stockpiling enough 60% enriched uranium to produce nine nuclear bombs, according to the IAEA.
Takht-Ravanchi accused some Western leaders of “ridiculous endorsement” of U.S. and Israeli strikes, responding to questions about Western mistrust of Iran.
He said critics should instead question “how we’ve been treated” and condemn the U.S. and Israel. “If they lack the courage to criticize America, they should remain silent and not justify aggression,” he added.
He also said Iran received intermediary messages that the U.S. “does not intend to pursue regime change” by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.
Earlier, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu had urged Iranians to “rise up for their freedom,” but after the ceasefire, Trump stated he did not seek to topple the regime.
Takht-Ravanchi insisted that regime change “will never happen” and called the idea “sterile thinking.”
He emphasized that while some Iranians may criticize aspects of government policy, they would unite against foreign aggression.
Regarding the ceasefire, he said its continuation was “not entirely clear,” but Iran would uphold it “as long as no military attack is launched against us.”
He added that Iran’s Arab Gulf allies “are doing their best to create the conditions for dialogue,” highlighting Qatar’s role in brokering the ceasefire.
“We don’t want war—we want dialogue and diplomacy,” he concluded. “But we must be prepared and cautious, so we are not caught off guard again.”
