Iran Demands U.S. Guarantees Against Further Strikes Before Resuming Nuclear Talks
Iran has called on the United States to provide clear guarantees that no further military strikes will be carried out against its territory if Washington truly seeks to resume diplomatic negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.
In an interview with the BBC, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi stated that the U.S. had conveyed, through intermediaries, its interest in returning to the negotiating table this week. However, he emphasized that Washington had yet to clarify its position on a “very important question” concerning the possibility of additional attacks on Iran during the course of any talks.
“No agreement has been reached regarding the date for resuming negotiations with the U.S.,” Takht-Ravanchi said. “We are currently seeking an answer to this question: If we engage in dialogue, will we witness a repeat of aggressive actions?”
Iran and the United States had been preparing for a sixth round of indirect talks on Tehran’s nuclear program when Israel carried out airstrikes targeting Iranian military and nuclear sites earlier last month. In response, Iran launched missiles at The Zionist Entity.
The United States became directly involved in the conflict on June 21, when it bombed three nuclear-related sites in Iran.
“We haven’t agreed on any date or format for the negotiations,” Takht-Ravanchi reiterated. “We are waiting for a response to a key question: Will hostile actions be repeated if we participate in the dialogue? The Americans must be absolutely clear on this, but so far, they have not clarified their position.”
Meanwhile, Iranian state television quoted government spokesperson Fatemeh Mohajerani on Tuesday, confirming that no date had been set for negotiations with the United States. She noted, however, that the talks would not take place in the near future.
