Iran has indicated it is prepared to consider meaningful compromises in its nuclear negotiations with the United States — but only if Washington is willing to address the long-standing issue of economic sanctions.
In an interview with the BBC, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi stated that Tehran remains open to discussions that could curb aspects of its nuclear program in exchange for financial relief. However, he emphasized that Iran will not link nuclear negotiations to other matters such as its missile program, maintaining a firm boundary around the scope of talks.
A second round of negotiations is scheduled to take place in Geneva on Tuesday, following earlier discussions in Oman that marked the resumption of diplomatic engagement between the two nations. According to Takht-Ravanchi, the initial discussions moved “more or less in a positive direction,” though he cautioned that it is still too early to draw firm conclusions.
Reports suggest that a US delegation — including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner — is expected to meet Iranian officials, with Omani representatives serving as mediators in the dialogue.
Iran’s atomic energy chief also indicated that Tehran could agree to dilute its highest levels of enriched uranium if all financial sanctions are lifted. Takht-Ravanchi referenced this possibility as evidence of Iran’s flexibility in negotiations.
At the heart of the disagreement remains uranium enrichment. Tehran has consistently rejected any demand for zero enrichment within its territory, while Washington views domestic enrichment as a potential pathway to nuclear weapons. Iran continues to deny that it seeks to develop nuclear arms.
The renewed talks follow years of tension after the United States withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement — formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action — during former President Donald Trump’s first term in office. The deal, originally brokered under President Barack Obama, had eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for strict limitations on its nuclear activities.
Now, as both sides return to the negotiating table, the stakes are high. Sanctions have weighed heavily on Iran’s economy, impacting ordinary citizens far beyond diplomatic chambers. For many families, the outcome of these talks is not merely a geopolitical matter — it shapes daily life, access to medicine, employment opportunities, and economic stability.
Beyond policy debates and strategic calculations, this moment represents a fragile opportunity. Whether leaders can translate cautious diplomacy into tangible relief remains uncertain. But for millions watching from both nations and across the world, the hope is simple: fewer tensions, fewer threats, and a step closer to stability in a region long defined by uncertainty.
