Iran has announced its willingness to return to nuclear negotiations with the United States, but only if it receives strong guarantees that no further attacks will be carried out against its territory.
During a meeting with foreign diplomats in Tehran, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi emphasized that the country is not opposed to dialogue. However, he stressed the importance of ensuring that talks do not escalate into conflict. “There must be a firm commitment that negotiations will not lead to another cycle of violence,” he said.
Araghchi pointed to the recent 12-day bombardment of Iranian nuclear and military sites by Israel, as well as a U.S. airstrike on June 22, as reasons for Iran’s current hesitation. He argued that these actions have made diplomatic progress much harder. In response, Iran suspended cooperation with the UN’s nuclear watchdog, leading to the withdrawal of inspectors.
Iran has now adopted a more cautious approach, stating that future cooperation with international inspectors will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis, in line with national interests and security concerns. Araghchi also warned about the high risk posed by leftover explosives and potential radioactive leaks at the bombed sites, reinforcing Iran’s demand for inspections to prioritize safety.
Despite international pressure, Iran has continued enriching uranium on its own soil — a point of ongoing tension with the United States, which insists that enrichment must stop. While Israel claims Iran is dangerously close to building a nuclear weapon, U.S. intelligence and the UN nuclear agency believe Iran’s structured nuclear weapons program ended in 2003, though uranium enrichment levels have reached a technically alarming 60%, just short of weapons-grade.
Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian also revealed that the U.S. strikes caused such extensive damage that Iranian officials have not yet been able to assess the full extent of the destruction at key nuclear facilities.
As tensions remain high, Iran’s stance is clear: a return to the negotiating table is possible — but only if firm assurances are made to prevent further military escalations.