Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the country would be willing to restart nuclear negotiations with the United States, provided there are firm guarantees that no further attacks will take place, according to Iranian state media.
Speaking to foreign diplomats in Tehran on Saturday, Araghchi emphasized that Iran has always been open to dialogue over its nuclear program. However, he stressed that any future talks must come with assurances that they won't escalate into conflict. “There must be a guarantee that resuming talks will not result in war,” he said.
He referenced recent hostilities, including a 12-day Israeli bombardment targeting Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, as well as a U.S. airstrike on June 22. These events, he said, have significantly complicated any path forward through negotiation. “If the U.S. and others truly want to return to talks, they must first guarantee that such attacks will not happen again,” Araghchi stated.
In the wake of the attacks, Iran halted its cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog, prompting international inspectors to leave the country. Araghchi clarified that Iran would now respond to inspection requests on a “case-by-case” basis, aligned with national interests. He also cited safety concerns, noting the danger of radioactive material leaks and leftover ammunition at damaged sites.
He reiterated Iran’s commitment to uranium enrichment within its borders, a point of contention with the U.S. President Donald Trump, who has demanded that Iran stop enrichment entirely.
Israel justified its actions by claiming Iran was close to developing a nuclear weapon. However, both U.S. intelligence and the International Atomic Energy Agency have stated that Iran has not had an active nuclear weapons program since 2003. Still, Tehran’s uranium enrichment has reached 60%—just below the 90% needed for weapons-grade material.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian revealed in an interview on Monday that the recent U.S. strikes caused extensive damage to Iran’s nuclear sites—so much so that officials have not yet been able to fully assess the destruction.