Iran Declares Conditions for Renewing Nuclear Talks with U.S.
Tehran demands guarantees against future attacks following strikes on its nuclear facilities by Israel and the United States.
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Iran has expressed willingness to reenter nuclear negotiations with the United States, but only if certain demands are met, following recent military attacks on its nuclear infrastructure.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking in a written interview with Le Monde, stated that future talks hinge on firm U.S. guarantees that no further strikes will occur.
The sixth round of indirect negotiations, that set to take place in Oman on June 15, was abruptly canceled following the end of the 60 day deadline and Israel's airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and high-ranking military personnel.
Tehran labeled the attacks a “declaration of war.” Just days later, the U.S. joined in, deploying bombers against nuclear targets, with President Trump boasting that the facilities had been “completely obliterated”, a claim that independent sources have contested.
Araghchi condemned the strikes as violations of international law, emphasizing that it was the U.S., not Iran, that derailed diplomatic progress. “We remain committed to diplomacy,” he said, “but only on the basis of accountability, mutual respect, and, most importantly, guarantees against any attack.”
Despite rising tensions, Araghchi confirmed that communication continues through intermediaries. The U.S. State Department, for its part, insisted this week that Trump remains committed to peace. “Our commitment has been steadfast through all of these conflicts,” said spokesperson Tammy Bruce. “Now is a time for Iran to take advantage of that.”
Responding to Trump’s claims that Iran’s nuclear program had been destroyed, Araghchi said the government is still “assessing the damage” and may pursue reparations. “To claim that a program has been annihilated... is a miscalculation,” he added. Iran has continued enriching uranium up to 60% purity, far above the 3.67% limit established by the 2015 nuclear accord, which the U.S. abandoned during Trump’s first term. Araghchi stressed that enrichment levels are based on national needs and serve as a message: “Threat and pressure are not solutions.”
He also dismissed any notion of negotiating over Iran’s ballistic missile program, describing it as purely defensive. “It is unreasonable to expect Iran to abandon its defensive capabilities under current conditions,” he said.