Iran has issued a stern warning to the United States, demanding it rule out any future military strikes if it is serious about resuming diplomatic negotiations. Speaking to the BBC, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said talks cannot move forward unless Washington provides a clear commitment to halt its aggression.
The warning comes after a recent escalation in hostilities, triggered by Israel’s military operation against Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13. That offensive derailed a planned sixth round of indirect talks in Muscat, which were scheduled just two days later.
The conflict rapidly intensified when the US directly intervened, bombing three key Iranian nuclear facilities Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. While US President Donald Trump claimed the sites were “totally obliterated,” the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported “severe but not total” damage.
Takht-Ravanchi criticized the strikes and insisted that Iran would not abandon its right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes. “To say you should not have enrichment, and if you don’t agree, we will bomb you that is the law of the jungle,” he stated. Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60%, far above the 3.67% cap set by the 2015 nuclear deal, which the US exited in 2018.
As tensions mount, Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of bias toward Israel and the US. Takht-Ravanchi also dismissed Western pressure to limit Iran’s nuclear activities, saying, “Why should we agree to such a proposal?” regarding potential concessions in return for sanctions relief.
He confirmed Iran had received messages through mediators indicating the US does not seek regime change, despite Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s call for Iranians to rise against their government.
Takht-Ravanchi concluded by reiterating Iran’s preference for diplomacy over conflict, saying Tehran would observe the current ceasefire “as long as there is no military attack against us” and praised Gulf Arab allies, particularly Qatar, for facilitating dialogue efforts.
As the region remains volatile, the path to renewed negotiations appears uncertain without US assurances of restraint.
