Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said Iran was ready to negotiate with the United States over its nuclear program, but only if Washington took meaningful steps to restore trust.
Iran will meet in Istanbul on Friday with Britain, France and Germany, known as the E3 countries, as well as the European Union's deputy commissioner for foreign policy.
These will be the first talks since Iran's 12-day war with Israel in June, during which US B-52 bombers struck nuclear facilities in Iran.
Mr Gharibabadi wrote on social media on Thursday that Iran needed to meet “several key principles” to enter into talks.
These measures, he said, include “restoring Iran’s trust (as Iran has absolutely no trust in the United States); preventing the talks from being used as a platform for hidden plans such as military action, although Iran remains fully prepared for any scenario; respecting and recognizing Iran’s rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, including enrichment in accordance with its legitimate needs; and lifting sanctions.”
The talks on Friday will be held at the deputy minister level. Iran will send Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi. A similar meeting took place in Istanbul in May.
European leaders have threatened to trigger the “snapback” mechanism provided for in the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, which would restore sanctions lifted in exchange for Iran agreeing to limits and monitoring of its nuclear program.
Britain, France and Germany signed the 2015 deal. The US withdrew in 2018, during the first term of President Donald Trump, who insisted the agreement was not strong enough.
Iranian officials have warned that there will be consequences for trying to reimpose sanctions, with Mr Gharibabadi saying earlier this week that it could force Tehran to withdraw from key non-proliferation agreements.
In a letter to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi accused the E3 of hypocrisy, saying they had failed to fulfill their obligations under the 2015 agreement while supporting Israel's recent strikes on Iran.
In the recent conflict, American B-52 bombers struck Iranian nuclear facilities in support of Israel's air campaign. Iran responded with missile strikes, including one on a US base in Qatar that President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted was not aimed at the Qatari state.
In an interview with Al Jazeera broadcast on Wednesday, Mr Pezeshkian said Iran was ready for a new war and accused Israel of attempting to assassinate him during a June 15 meeting of Iran's National Security Council in Tehran.
Mr Pezeschkian reiterated that Iran's nuclear programme would continue within the framework of international law and stressed that the country had no intention of developing nuclear weapons.
“Our nuclear potential is in the minds of our scientists,” he said, stressing Iran's position that future talks should be based on mutual respect, not threats.
At least 13 Iranian nuclear scientists have been killed in the 12-day war between Iran and Israel, according to the official judicial news agency Mizan.
A spokesman for Iran's Atomic Energy Organization said on Thursday that the country's nuclear industry would recover after recent attacks by Israel and the United States.
“Our nuclear industry has deep roots. What has roots cannot be damaged by attack or pressure – it will recover and flourish again,” state television quoted Behrouz Kamalvandi as saying.
In May, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched to 60 percent had exceeded 400 kilograms (882 pounds). The material, just below weapons grade, remains a major concern in the West.
Despite its growing stockpiles, Iran has said it remains open to diplomacy, although it recently suspended cooperation with the IAEA following a law signed by Mr Pezeshkian.
While European officials say they want to avoid further conflict and are open to a negotiated solution, they warn that time is running out.
Sourse: breakingnews.ie
