NAIROBI, Kenya— Iran has drawn a red line in the sand: no more US airstrikes if Washington wants nuclear talks back on the table.
That’s the message from Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, in an interview with the BBC that laid bare the country’s frustrations, suspicions—and firm stance—as tensions with the West remain razor-sharp.
Takht-Ravanchi confirmed that the Trump administration, via mediators, has floated interest in resuming diplomacy. But Tehran is not ready to sit down unless it gets a crystal-clear answer to one key question: will the US halt military aggression while the two sides talk?
“You can’t say, ‘Let’s negotiate,’ and then bomb us three days later,” Takht-Ravanchi said, referencing recent US airstrikes that targeted Iran’s nuclear sites. “That is the law of the jungle.”
The interview follows a bloody 12-day exchange of attacks that started when Israel launched preemptive strikes on Iran’s nuclear and military infrastructure on June 13, claiming Tehran was close to building a nuclear bomb. Iran retaliated with missile fire.
Then the US stepped in—bombing Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan. Washington claimed the nuclear sites were “totally obliterated.” The IAEA called the damage “severe but not total.”
Trump’s move scuttled what was supposed to be a sixth round of indirect nuclear talks in Muscat just two days later.
Despite the strikes, Takht-Ravanchi made it clear: Iran is still open to negotiations—but not at gunpoint. “Right now, we are seeking an answer to this question: are we going to see a repetition of aggression while we are engaging in dialogue?”
The deputy minister added that any future talks would require serious trust-building steps from Washington, including clarity about military actions and respect for Iran’s sovereignty.
And then there’s the uranium question—the one that seems to hover over every attempt at diplomacy. Iran says it will not give up uranium enrichment, a right it insists is vital for its research and energy needs.
“We’ve been denied access to nuclear material,” Takht-Ravanchi explained. “So we need to rely on ourselves. The level and capacity can be discussed—but not zero enrichment.”
Iran is currently enriching uranium to 60%, far above the 3.67% cap set by the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA), which Trump famously walked away from in 2018.
Since then, Tehran has steadily scaled up its program, even restarting enrichment at the Fordo facility. According to the IAEA, Iran now has enough 60%-enriched uranium to build up to nine nuclear bombs—if it chooses to.
But Iran insists its ambitions are peaceful. “We are not building a bomb,” Takht-Ravanchi repeated. “Our enrichment is for peaceful purposes.”
Meanwhile, the IAEA’s relationship with Iran has taken a hit. Tehran’s parliament recently voted to suspend cooperation with the nuclear watchdog, accusing it of siding with the US and Israel. The decision followed IAEA chief Rafael Grossi’s warning that Iran could restart full-scale enrichment “in a matter of months.”
Takht-Ravanchi shrugged off talk of Iran rethinking its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief and Western investment. “Why should we agree to such a proposal?” he asked bluntly.
The tone was just as fiery when it came to European leaders. The diplomat slammed what he called their “ridiculous” support of US and Israeli strikes, saying if they don’t have the “guts to criticize America,” they should stay silent.
And what about those calls from Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for regime change? Or Trump’s earlier tough talk about the Iranian leadership? According to Takht-Ravanchi, that’s a non-starter.
“No one is bringing down the Supreme Leader,” he said. “Iranians may criticize their government, but when it comes to foreign aggression, they’re united.”
As for the ceasefire with Israel? It’s fragile at best. Takht-Ravanchi said Iran will uphold it “as long as there is no military attack against us.” He added that Iran’s Gulf neighbors, particularly Qatar, are working behind the scenes to maintain calm and prepare the ground for dialogue.
Still, the path ahead remains foggy. Takht-Ravanchi said no date had been set for talks, and he doesn’t even know what would be on the agenda if they were to happen.
