A senior Iranian official has stated that Tehran is prepared to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States—on the condition that Washington rules out further military strikes on Iranian territory.

In an interview with the BBC, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht Ravanchi confirmed that Iran is open to talks, but only if the Biden administration guarantees it will not carry out additional attacks during the negotiation process.

Ravanchi noted that the U.S. had conveyed its willingness to resume dialogue through intermediaries but had not clarified its stance on the use of force. “This is a very important issue,” he said, adding that Iran cannot negotiate under the threat of continued airstrikes.

Negotiations Halted After U.S. Strikes

The most recent round of indirect U.S.-Iran nuclear talks—previously scheduled to resume in Muscat—was suspended after Israel launched a military operation on June 13 targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites. The United States became directly involved days later, conducting airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan.

The CIA has since told Congress that the strikes significantly delayed Iran’s nuclear program, though Iranian officials have not confirmed the scale of the damage. Ravanchi said he could not provide an accurate assessment of the impact.

Iran Defends Enrichment Rights

Ravanchi reiterated Iran’s insistence on continuing uranium enrichment for what it claims are peaceful purposes. Dismissing accusations of nuclear weapons development, he argued that Iran has been denied access to essential nuclear materials for research and must therefore rely on domestic capabilities.

He warned against demands to halt enrichment altogether, saying, “Saying that there should be no enrichment, that the enrichment rate should be zero, and if you do not agree, we will attack you—this is the law of the jungle.”

The 12-Day Conflict

The confrontation between Iran and Israel spanned 12 days, triggered by Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure and the assassination of military officials and scientists. Iran responded with a series of missile attacks on Israeli territory.

The escalation drew in the United States, which conducted coordinated strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities in a move that further strained diplomatic efforts.

With indirect negotiations stalled, Iran’s latest condition could become a key factor in determining whether nuclear diplomacy between Tehran and Washington resumes in the near future.