Iran Open to Resuming Nuclear Talks if Treated Respectfully, Adviser Says — But Preconditions Remain

Kamal Kharrazi, a foreign policy adviser to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said Tehran is willing to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States provided talks occur on equal footing and with mutual respect. Speaking from Tehran, Kharrazi insisted that Iran will not abandon the positions it held before the attacks on its nuclear sites in June.

“They have to make the first move to show that they are ready to engage with us on the conditions that we put… it has to be based on equal footing and mutual respect,” Kharrazi said. He added that any agenda should be prepared in advance to clarify both substance and process.

“Start with a positive approach with Iran. If it will be positive, certainly it will be reciprocated. But for that, they (the US) have to refrain from any force against Iran,” Kharrazi said, urging Washington to avoid military action.

Kharrazi criticized the U.S. president’s approach to diplomacy, saying that force has been preferred over negotiation. Later the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump said Iran was “very much” signaling interest in a deal, and suggested talks were possible.

Kharrazi reiterated that Tehran’s conditions for renewed engagement remain unchanged since the June strikes, which involved Israeli attacks and subsequent U.S. strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. He said Iran continues to view uranium enrichment as necessary for civilian power generation and medical uses and that its expanding ballistic missile program is not open to negotiation. “It is only the nuclear issue we will discuss with the United States,” he said.

Iranian officials have reported damage to infrastructure and equipment at some sites, but have also said the nuclear program remains intact. Officials indicated that enrichment activity was halted immediately after the attacks while damage assessments continue.

During earlier talks in June, Washington had argued Iran should stop uranium enrichment entirely. Tehran maintained it must continue domestic enrichment at levels suitable for power and medical isotopes but not for weapons. Kharrazi said any future discussions with the United States would focus on the degree of enrichment rather than whether enrichment per se should continue.

Separately, reports from the summer described a U.S. proposal under which the United States would invest in Iran’s civilian nuclear program and participate in a consortium to oversee low-level enrichment inside Iran for a limited period. The proposed consortium would likely include regional states and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA). Iranian officials signaled openness to safeguards and oversight mechanisms but emphasized the need to retain domestic control over enrichment capabilities.

Asked whether there is room for an agreement that preserves Iran’s enrichment while assuring other countries it is not pursuing nuclear weapons, Kharrazi said, “I think so.” He warned, however, that further confrontation remains possible and said Iran is prepared for that outcome if necessary.

Key takeaways: Iran says it will consider talks if treated respectfully and on equal terms; Tehran will continue uranium enrichment for civilian needs; its ballistic missile program is off the table; any agreement would likely focus on limits or verification of enrichment levels rather than eliminating enrichment entirely.