Iran has said it is ready to make compromises on a nuclear deal with the United States if Washington discusses lifting sanctions, a senior diplomat said. Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said the “ball is in America’s court” to show genuine intent. “If they are sincere, we will be on the road to an agreement,” he added
The U.S. and Iran held indirect talks in Oman on February 6. A second round will take place in Geneva. Takht-Ravanchi described the initial discussions as “more or less in a positive direction” but said it was too early to judge. He highlighted Tehran’s offer to dilute its 60%-enriched uranium as a sign of flexibility.
“We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our nuclear program if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” he said. He did not confirm whether Iran would ship its stockpile of over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium abroad, as it did in the 2015 deal. Russia, which accepted low-enriched uranium under that agreement, has reportedly offered to take it again.
Takht-Ravanchi said the talks should focus only on the nuclear issue. Iran has long rejected U.S. demands for zero enrichment, arguing they violate its rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. “The issue of zero enrichment is not on the table anymore,” he said.
He also refused to discuss Iran’s ballistic missile program, a major concern for Israel. “When Israelis and Americans attacked us, our missiles came to our rescue. How can we deprive ourselves of our defensive capabilities?” he asked. The deputy foreign minister warned that conflicting U.S. messages caused concern. Private and public communications show willingness to negotiate, but President Trump has emphasized regime change in recent statements.
Takht-Ravanchi cautioned that any U.S. military escalation would be disastrous. “Another war would be traumatic and bad for everyone… especially those who started the aggression,” he said. Iran has warned that it could target U.S. bases in the region if attacked. Despite mistrust and delays, Iran remains cautiously optimistic. “We will do our best, but the other side also has to prove they are sincere,” Takht-Ravanchi said as Tehran prepares for the next round of talks in Geneva.