Iran Says Willing to Resume Nuclear Talks with U.S. if Guaranteed No Further Attacks

AFP

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

Iran has signalled its willingness to restart nuclear negotiations with the United States, but only if it receives firm guarantees that there will be no further military attacks against its territory. 

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a speech to Tehran-based foreign diplomats that his country would accept a resumption of nuclear talks with the U.S. if there were assurances of no more attacks against it, state media reported.

Araghchi reiterated that Iran remains prepared to engage in dialogue about its nuclear programme, provided that renewed talks do not escalate into conflict. He stressed that assurances must be given to prevent any future attacks, as recent strikes have complicated the prospects for a negotiated solution.

The foreign minister referenced a 12-day Israeli bombardment and a U.S. airstrike on 22 June 2025, which caused significant damage to Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. "These actions," he said, "have heightened tensions and made diplomatic progress more challenging."

In response to the attacks, Iran suspended its cooperation with the United Nations nuclear watchdog (IAEA), leading to the withdrawal of inspectors from the country. 

Araghchi said that under Iranian law, the country will answer the agency’s request for cooperation “case by case,” based on Iran’s interests. He also said any inspection by the agency should be done based on Iran’s “security” concerns as well as the safety of the inspectors. “The risk of proliferation of radioactive ingredients and an explosion of ammunition that remains from the war in the attacked nuclear sites is serious,” he said.

He also reiterated Iran’s position on the need to continue enriching uranium on its soil. U.S. President Donald Trump has insisted that cannot happen.

Iran reaffirmed its commitment to continue enriching uranium on its own soil, a point of contention with the U.S., which has demanded an end to such activities. Tehran maintains that its enrichment programme is for peaceful purposes, although recent enrichment levels have drawn international concern.

Israel justified its attacks by claiming that Iran was nearing the threshold of developing a nuclear weapon. U.S. intelligence and the IAEA have previously assessed that Iran’s organised nuclear weapons programme ended in 2003, but Iran’s enrichment of uranium up to 60%—close to weapons-grade—remains a significant issue.

 Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian stated that the U.S. airstrikes inflicted such severe damage on nuclear sites that authorities have yet to fully assess the extent of the destruction.

Before returning to the negotiating table, Iran insists on concrete assurances that there will be no repeat of military actions targeting its nuclear facilities. Iranian officials continue to link progress in talks to the lifting of U.S. sanctions, which it views as an obstacle to diplomatic trust and economic recovery.



PUKMEDIA