Iran says it's ready for nuclear talks with the US but only if
Washington rebuilds trust
[July 25, 2025]
By AMIR VAHDAT
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — Iran is ready to engage in talks on its nuclear
program with the United States, but only if Washington takes meaningful
steps to rebuild trust, a senior Iranian diplomat said Thursday, ahead
of a key meeting with European officials.
That meeting will be the first since a ceasefire was reached after a
12-day war waged by Israel against Iran in June, which also saw U.S.
B-52 bombers strike nuclear-related facilities in the Islamic Republic.
The discussions will bring Iranian officials together with officials
from Britain, France and Germany — known as the E3 nations — and will
include the European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas. A
similar meeting had been held in the Turkish city in May.
Iran's conditions
In a social media post, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi
said Thursday that for talks with the Unites States, Tehran would seek
that “several key principles” be upheld.
These include “rebuilding Iran’s trust — as Iran has absolutely no trust
in the United States," he said, adding there could be no room “for
hidden agendas such as military action, though Iran remains fully
prepared for any scenario.”
Washington would have to respect and recognize Iran’s rights under the
international agreement known as the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty,
including the right to enrich uranium “in line with its legitimate
needs” and the lifting of crippling economic sanctions on Iran.
The talks in Istanbul will be held at the deputy ministerial level, with
Iran sending Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, the other of Iran's two deputy
foreign ministers.
A show of strength
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a televised interview
Thursday that Tehran would not back down from uranium enrichment. Before
the war in June, Iran was enriching uranium up to 60% — a short,
technical step from weapons-grade levels.
“Our enrichment will continue, and we will not give up this right of the
Iranian people,” Araghchi said in a video posted on the state TV’s
Telegram channel.
Iran’s top diplomat said the Istanbul talks with the European parties
are necessary, especially after the 12-day war, to make them aware that
Iran’s positions remain strong.
“The world must know that there has been no change in our stance,” he
said. "We will continue to firmly defend the rights of the Iranian
people to peaceful nuclear energy, especially regarding enrichment.”
Araghchi also said that Iran has always been ready to advance its
peaceful program within a reasonable and logical framework. “We have
never hesitated to build trust with countries that may have concerns,”
he said, “but at the same time, Iran’s demand is that its right to
peaceful nuclear energy, including enrichment, be respected.”
High stakes
European leaders have threatened to trigger a “snapback” mechanism
included in a 2015 nuclear deal with Iran, which would reimpose
sanctions that were lifted in exchange for Iran accepting restrictions
and monitoring of its nuclear program.
The United Kingdom, France and Germany were signatories to the 2015
deal. The U.S. withdrew in 2018 during the first term of President
Donald Trump, who insisted the agreement wasn’t tough enough.
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Iran's Ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA,
Kazem Gharibabadi, waits for the start of the IAEA board of
governors meeting at the International Center in Vienna, Austria,
Nov. 21, 2019. (AP Photo/Ronald Zak, file)
Iranian officials have warned that a move to reimpose sanctions
would have consequences. Gharibabadi said earlier this week that it
could force Tehran to withdraw from key non-proliferation
agreements.
In a letter to U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres, Araghchi
accused the E3 of hypocrisy, saying they failed to uphold their
obligations under the 2015 deal while supporting Israel’s recent
strikes on Iran.
In last month's conflict, Iran responded to Israeli and U.S. strikes
with missile attacks, including a strike on a U.S. base in Qatar,
which Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian insisted was not directed
at the Qatari state.
In an interview with Al Jazeera that aired on Wednesday, Pezeshkian
said Iran is prepared for another war and accused Israel of
attempting to assassinate him during a June 15 meeting of Iran's
national security council in Tehran.
Pezeshkian reiterated that Iran’s nuclear program will continue
within the framework of international law and insisted the country
has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons.
“Our nuclear capabilities are in the minds of our scientists,” he
said, emphasizing Iran’s position that future negotiations must be
rooted in mutual respect, not threats.
The aftermath of war
According to Iran's official judicial news agency Mizan, at least 13
Iranian nuclear scientists were killed during the June Israel-Iran
war.
The extent of the damage to Iran's nuclear sites from the war has
not been publicly revealed but a spokesman for Iran’s Atomic Energy
Organization said Thursday the country’s nuclear industry would
recover.
“Our nuclear industry is deeply rooted. What has roots cannot be
harmed by attack or pressure — it will grow back and thrive again,”
state TV quoted Behrouz Kamalvandi as saying.
The U.N. nuclear watchdog — the International Atomic Energy Agency,
or IAEA — reported in May that Iran’s stockpile of uranium enriched
to 60% had grown to over 400 kilograms (882 pounds). That material,
just below weapons-grade level, remains a central concern for the
West.
After the June war, Iran suspended cooperation with the IAEA,
following legislation signed by Pezeshkian.
The road ahead remains uncertain. While European officials say they
want to avoid further conflict and are open to a negotiated
solution, they have warned that time is running out.
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