rki.news
Source: Xinhua
Tehran: Iran and the United States will hold a second round of indirect nuclear negotiations in Geneva on Tuesday, a senior Iranian diplomat confirmed, expressing cautious optimism about reaching a potential agreement if Washington shows “sincerity.”
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in an interview with the BBC that the first round of talks in Muscat on February 6 had moved “more or less in a positive direction,” and Tehran would enter the Geneva discussions hopeful of progress.
He stressed that the “ball is in the U.S. court,” urging Washington to demonstrate genuine intent by addressing sanctions relief. Takht-Ravanchi pointed to Iran’s readiness to dilute 60-percent enriched uranium as evidence of flexibility, saying Tehran is prepared to discuss nuclear-related issues if sanctions are also on the table.
However, he reaffirmed Iran’s red lines, stating that the country’s missile program and defensive capabilities are non-negotiable and that zero uranium enrichment on Iranian soil “is not on the table anymore.”
The diplomat also criticized the U.S. military buildup in West Asia, warning that any new conflict would have severe regional consequences and that Iran would respond to existential threats.
The renewed diplomatic engagement comes amid persistent tensions between Tehran and Washington, with both sides testing whether indirect negotiations can revive prospects for a nuclear understanding.