US tells Iran through mediators it wants to resume talks, says Iran’s Foreign Ministry

The U.S. must rule out any further strikes on Iran if it wants to resume diplomatic talks, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi says the Trump administration has told Iran through mediators it wants to return to negotiations, but had “not made their position clear” on the “very important question” of further attacks while talks are taking place.

“The level of that [enrichment] can be discussed, the capacity can be discussed, but to say that you should not have enrichment, you should have zero enrichment, and if do you not agree, we will bomb you – that is the law of the jungle,” Iran’s deputy foreign minister said.

Asked if Iran could consider rethinking its nuclear program as part of any deal, possibly in return for sanctions relief and investment in the country, Takht-Ravanchi said: “Why should we agree to such a proposal?”

Takht-Ravanchi reiterated that Iran’s program, including enriching uranium to 60%, was “for peaceful purposes”. He also said Iran had received messages through mediators that the US did “not want to engage in regime change in Iran” by targeting the country’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

He said that although some Iranians “might have criticism of some actions by the government, when it comes to foreign aggression they would be united to confront it”.