Iran is prepared to resume talks with the United States but only if it meets certain conditions, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.
Iran’s suggestion that talks can be resumed comes nearly three weeks after President Donald Trump ordered strikes on Iran aimed at stopping its nuclear program following initial Israeli strikes.
Newsweek has reached out to the U.S. Department of State for comment.
Why It Matters
The comments and the setting of conditions indicate the challenge to reviving talks.
The impact of the U.S. strikes on the Iranian facilities is not clear, leading to speculation of more attacks and major questions over efforts to revive diplomatic engagement between the two long-time adversaries.
Iran’s nuclear program may get more difficult to monitor if no deal is reached with the United States. The U.N. nuclear watchdog has withdrawn its inspectors and nuclear experts believe Iran relocated more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium—enough for 10 nuclear weapons—to a secret location.
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What To Know
Araghchi, in a written interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, said the United States should compensate for the “serious damages” caused by the strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and guarantee there won’t be more attacks. He also warned that sanctions complicate diplomacy and efforts to build trust around Iran’s nuclear program.
“It was the U.S. that broke off negotiations and turned to military action. It is therefore essential that responsibility for these mistakes is acknowledged and that a clear sign of a change in behavior is observed,” Araghchi said.
“Our adversary [the U.S.] trampled a multilateral and international agreement, violated our airspace in the middle of negotiations, and attacked facilities,” Araghchi said, referring to a multinational agreement to stop Iran from building nuclear weapons that Trump abandoned in 2018, during his first term.
“It must be guaranteed that in the future, during negotiations, the U.S. does not launch a military attack,” Araghchi added.
The U.S. State Department said this week that President Trump is committed to peace with Iran. “Our commitment has been steadfast through all of these conflicts and now is a time for Iran to take advantage of that,” spokesperson Tammy Bruce told reporters.
Iran says it has the right to pursue a civilian nuclear program. Iran must enrich uranium to 20 percent purity to keep its research reactor running, Araghchi said, adding that “threat and pressure are not solutions.”
“The principle of enrichment is both a right and a need for Iran, but these details can be negotiated within a balanced, reciprocal, and guaranteed agreement,” Araghchi said.
Iran’s Missile Program
Iran responded to Israeli attacks with hundreds of ballistic missiles and drones targeting Israeli cities. Iran also attacked a U.S. military base in Qatar after the U.S. bombing.
On the question of negotiations over Iran’s missile program, Araghchi said: “In a context where Iran is constantly threatened by Israel and the US and has now been attacked by them, it is unreasonable to expect Iran to abandon its defensive capabilities.”
Iranian officials and commanders have signaled their readiness in case of renewed attacks. Iran’s army said despite the Israeli airstrikes, it had securely stockpiled thousands of missiles and drones and they were ready to use.
What People Have Said
Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi: We conduct uranium enrichment based on our rights under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and we have always said that we have no military intentions. Even now, after having been attacked, we have not deviated from our official policy on nuclear armament, which is based on a religious decree (fatwa) considering the production, accumulation, and use of weapons of mass destruction to be inhumane and un-Islamic.”
U.S. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce: “Our commitment has been steadfast through all of these conflicts and now is a time for Iran to take advantage of that.”
What Happens Next
Araghchi acknowledged the mediation efforts and indicated that the door to talks remained open. If negotiations do not progress it increases the prospects of renewed military action.
