“Some countries are in contact with Iran and the U.S. As you know, we have been negotiating with Oman as a mediator,” Majid Takht-Ravanchi said.
In an interview with Turkish TV channel “Habertürk,” Takht-Ravanchi answered several questions about Iran’s nuclear program.
The official said that during the Istanbul negotiations, “we emphasized that uranium enrichment inside Iran is an inseparable part of any deal.”
When asked, “How was the meeting with the three European countries?” Takht-Ravanchi said, “We held another round of negotiations with the European countries at the ministerial level. This process has been underway for a while. We met and discussed various aspects of the nuclear issue. In Friday’s meeting, we discussed both the technical aspects of the nuclear issue and the lifting of sanctions. Regarding nuclear negotiations, we emphasized that enrichment inside Iran must remain an inseparable part of any deal. This is a main component of our negotiations.”
The deputy minister said, “We have always emphasized that any agreement must include the lifting of sanctions. This is another vital component of any agreement. Lifting sanctions by the U.S. and the EU is essential. It is very important for us.”
“We also addressed the blatant violations committed by the U.S. and the Zionist regime against Iran. We told the three European countries that these were overt and unprovoked acts of aggression against Iranians. More than a thousand of our people—mainly civilians—were martyred during these attacks, and 6,000 were wounded. Nothing can justify this blatant violation. These acts of aggression violate international law and the United Nations Charter and must be condemned by the entire international community.”
Takht-Ravanchi said that many countries have condemned these violations. “We must do whatever we can to prevent such attacks from happening again.”
Time and place of next negotiations not yet determined
When asked whether a new round of negotiations will be held and how he would describe Turkey’s role in the negotiations, Takht-Ravanchi said, “We have agreed to continue negotiations with them. However, the date and location of the next round have not yet been determined. We have always been satisfied with Turkey’s hospitality. We appreciate Turkey’s constructive role in making such negotiations possible.”
Iran and E3 Prefer Turkey
Takht-Ravanchi said, “We feel comfortable in Turkey. We previously held a round of negotiations there. We do not yet know where the next negotiations will take place, but both Iran and the E3 prefer Turkey as the location.”
Iran and the U.S. exchanging messages through mediators
When asked whether Iran is considering direct negotiations with the U.S., the official said, “Messages are exchanged between Iran and the U.S. through certain countries acting as mediators. We were negotiating with Oman as a mediator. However, we were first attacked by the Israeli regime and then by the U.S. These attacks occurred during the negotiations. This was a betrayal of diplomacy. Therefore, before starting a new round of negotiations with the U.S., we must ensure that such attacks will not happen again. It is vital for us that diplomacy is not betrayed. The Zionist regime and the U.S. surprised us with their attacks. We do not want to see such incidents repeated. The U.S. must convince us that it will not act this way again.”
We do not accept any force from the U.S.
The Deputy Minister said that the outcome of the negotiations must be based on the win-win principle, and that both parties must feel they have gained something. He noted, “We cannot accept any imposition from the U.S. Therefore, we cannot begin a real dialogue unless we are assured that the U.S. will not impose its will on us. We are not pursuing dialogue for the sake of dialogue. Conversation should have outcomes that satisfy both parties. We are evaluating this issue very seriously. Any new negotiation process with the U.S. will only be possible if it is based on the win-win principle.”
Damages to our nuclear facilities are serious
When Takht-Ravanchi was asked whether Iran has assessed the damage to its nuclear facilities, he responded, “The damages are serious. I am not in a position to say how much damage has been inflicted, but I can say that the damage is serious and concerning. Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization is responsible for assessing the damage, and is currently doing so.”
Enriched uranium not relocated
When asked whether Iran had relocated its enriched uranium, Takht-Ravanchi said, “As I mentioned before, inspectors from the International Atomic Energy Agency were aware of the location of the nuclear material.”
When asked whether there had been any shifts in Iran’s nuclear doctrine, the official rejected this claim and said, “The Fatwa is still in place. Nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s nuclear doctrine. We have enriched uranium for peaceful purposes in accordance with the Non-Proliferation Treaty. However, zero enrichment is not an option for us.”
We cooperate with China and Russia on military and political issues
Takht-Ravanchi said that we are in contact with China and Russia at various levels. We have strong economic ties, as well as military and political consultations within the UN Security Council.
The UN Security Council is not sufficient to prevent the Gaza massacre
Regarding the Gaza war, Takht-Ravanchi said that unfortunately, the Zionist regime is still committing genocide in Gaza, and international organizations—particularly the UN Security Council—are insufficient to stop it. We know that the U.S. has supplied various weapons to Israel. The Zionist regime feels it has unlimited freedom of action. They have deprived Palestinian children of food, water, and medicine. Therefore, all countries should condemn these attacks and acts of genocide.
