Iran Open to Restarting Nuclear Talks If Treated 'With Respect,' Adviser Says — Preconditions Stand

Iran signalled it is willing to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States provided talks are conducted on a foundation of mutual respect, but it will not abandon the conditions it set before the June strikes on its nuclear sites, a senior Iranian official said.

Kamal Kharrazi, foreign policy adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said any talks must begin with a clear, pre-agreed agenda and be conducted on an equal footing. He stressed Tehran will not change the stance it held prior to the June attacks.

"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. "The agenda would be prepared in advance to ensure the clarity of substance and the process of discussions."

Kharrazi also criticised U.S. policy toward Iran, saying: "Unfortunately, President Donald Trump does not believe in diplomatic engagement but rather prefers to use force to achieve his objectives."

President Trump later told guests at a White House dinner that Iran is "very much" signalling interest in striking a deal with the United States, saying, "They'd like very much to make a deal with us… and we'll end up probably doing that."

Kharrazi reiterated that Tehran's nuclear preconditions remain unchanged. Iran will continue uranium enrichment for civilian energy and medical purposes, he said, while its ballistic missile programme is explicitly off the negotiating table. "It is only the nuclear issue we will discuss with the United States," he added.

The renewed comments come after June strikes on Iranian targets by Israel that drew U.S. forces into direct action, including strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. Iranian leaders have offered varying public assessments of the damage: some officials report extensive structural and equipment losses, while others say the nuclear programme remains essentially intact and that enrichment activity is currently paused at some sites because of the attacks.

During the summer discussions, Washington demanded that Iran cease uranium enrichment entirely. Tehran, by contrast, insisted it must be allowed to continue domestic enrichment to levels it says cannot be used to construct nuclear weapons. Kharrazi said any future negotiations would focus on the degree of enrichment, not on stopping enrichment outright.

Earlier proposals reportedly put forward by the U.S. envisioned investment in Iran's civilian nuclear power programme and the creation of an international consortium — including regional partners and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) — to oversee low-level enrichment inside Iran. Iranian officials have said they are open to consortium arrangements in principle but insist on retaining national control over enrichment capabilities.

Asked whether an understanding with Washington is possible, Kharrazi said, "I think so," and suggested there are technical and diplomatic ways to allow Iran to continue enrichment while giving other states assurance it would not pursue weapons.

On the prospect of renewed military confrontation, he warned, "Everything is possible. But we are ready for that." He concluded with a message to the U.S. president: start with a positive, reciprocal diplomatic approach and refrain from the use of force.