Iran Willing To Negotiate Nuclear Program Restrictions As Long As Sanction Revocations

Iran's nuclear facility gate in Natanz. (Wikimedia Commons/Parsa.2au)

JAKARTA - Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi said Iran was open to negotiating mutually beneficial agreements, accepting certain limited restrictions on its nuclear program in exchange for lifting sanctions.

Deputy Foreign Minister Takht-e-Ravanchi told Kyodo News Iran wanted satisfactory results from all parties, including the United States.

However, he stressed uranium enrichment remains a non-negotiable need for Iran's nuclear program, calling it a fundamental element that cannot be ignored under any circumstances.

"Iran can be flexible about the capacity and limitation of enrichment, but it cannot be agreed to stop enrichment under any circumstances because it is important, and we need to rely on ourselves, not on empty promises," said Deputy Foreign Minister Takht-e-Ravanchi as quoted from IRNA August 13.

"Simply and clearly: if the US insists on zero enrichment, then we will not reach an agreement," he added.

Regarding the compensation issue, Deputy Foreign Minister Takht-e-Ravanchi noted that Iran's right to demand legal compensation, but said the topic was not a prerequisite for negotiations and would be discussed during negotiations.

He also emphasized that in order for the negotiations to continue, "Washington must guarantee they will not attack Iran again if negotiations continue."

Tehran and Washington were involved in indirect nuclear negotiations mediated by Oman, as Israel launched large-scale aggression against Iran on June 13.

Washington later joined the bombing of three major Iranian nuclear facilities under the pretext of preventing Iran from what it claims is the development of nuclear weapons on June 22.

Iran and five permanent members of the UN Security Council (Russia, UK, China, United States and France), Germany and the European Union agreed on a 2015 Nuclear Deal (JCPOA).

The deal regulates lifting sanctions against Iran in exchange for Tehran restricting its nuclear program. However, the United States under President Donald Trump at the time opted out of the deal in 2018 and continued sanctions against Iran.