Iran’s Stance on U.S. Military Action and Nuclear Negotiations
Iran has stated it will not oppose U.S. military actions against its nuclear program or pursue any nuclear “militarization.”
Deputy Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi mentioned, “Unless the U.S. takes offensive action against us, we will never respond again,” in an NBC News interview released on Thursday.
He expressed Iran’s willingness to negotiate with the U.S. concerning its nuclear program but clarified that Iran will continue to enrich uranium. “Our policy on enrichment hasn’t changed. Iran maintains the right to enrich within its borders. The key is to refrain from militarization,” he added.
On June 21, the U.S. military bombed three significant Iranian nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan following a series of strikes exchanged between Israel and Iran. In retaliation, Iran targeted the U.S. Al Udeid Air Force Base in Qatar. Iran informed Qatar of the impending strike, which was successfully intercepted by the defense system, resulting in no reported casualties.
President Trump celebrated the U.S. strikes, claiming they “eliminate” three nuclear facilities, and criticized earlier Defense Agency assessments that suggested a U.S. military action could inadvertently restart Iran’s nuclear ambitions within months.
The Pentagon reported that Iran’s nuclear program might be delayed by at least a year. Pentagon spokesperson Sean Parnell noted, “We estimate it could be closer to two years. It appears we have significantly deteriorated the program’s progress.”
These military actions unfolded while Washington and Tehran were discussing a potential new nuclear agreement after Trump withdrew from the 2015 agreement initiated under Obama in 2018.
Takht-Ravanchi raised concerns about trust, stating, “How can we trust Americans? Explain their misunderstandings and poor treatment towards our nation.” However, he reiterated Iran’s commitment to diplomacy and dialogue, stressing that the Trump administration must assure them military force won’t be used during negotiations.
“This is crucial for our leadership to guide future discussions,” the Iranian diplomat remarked.
On Thursday, Trump reaffirmed his interest in reinitiating nuclear talks with Iran, saying, “We’re not trying to hurt them. We want to rehabilitate their country. They’ve been worn down. Honestly, Iran has been beaten.” He expressed a willingness to meet, stating, “If they want to meet, I want them to meet, and I’ll do whatever is necessary.”
