Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with the United States as long as some principles are respected, deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Thursday, a day before a meeting with European powers in Istanbul.
The Iranian diplomat said talks could resume as long as Tehran's rights under the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty are recognized, Washington builds trust with Tehran, and guarantees that negotiations will not lead to renewed military action against Iran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi reaffirmed that Tehran will continue to pursue uranium enrichment in an interview with Fox News this week.
“Because this is a scientific achievement; an achievement that we have achieved ourselves,” Araghchi told Fox. “Why should we import something that we can produce ourselves?”
In response, US President Donald Trump posted on Truth Social: “If necessary—we will strike the nuclear sites again.”
Iran will defend its nuclear rights including uranium enrichment in talks scheduled for Friday with France, Britain and Germany, Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said in a video carried by state media on Thursday.
Araqchi said Iran has always been willing to advance its nuclear program in a logical way to reassure countries that might have worries.
Trump won't try to persuade Iran
Trump recently stated in private conversations that the US has decided to stop trying to persuade Iran to engage in talks over its nuclear program.
“If they want to come—they are welcome. But we are not going to try and convince or beg them to do so,” the president said in several discussions, according to two sources who spoke with The Jerusalem Post.
Amichai Stein contributed to this report.