Iran’s deputy foreign minister, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, told the BBC that Iran was willing to compromise on its nuclear programme
Iran is ready to dilute its stockpile of enriched uranium in order to reach a deal with the United States on its nuclear programme.
Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Tehran’s deputy foreign minister, told the BBC his country was “ready to discuss this and other issues related to our programme if they are ready to talk about sanctions”.
It is the first time a senior negotiator has conceded that Iran is willing to compromise on its nuclear programme, suggesting possible progress ahead of a second round of talks this week.
Mr Takht-Ravanchi also suggested the US had privately told Tehran that it would be willing to allow Iran to keep some enriched uranium, despite Donald Trump’s public zero tolerance stance.
He also claimed that Washington was no longer trying to include other issues in the nuclear talks with Iran, such as the regime’s ballistic missile programme or its support for terror groups in the Middle East.
“Our understanding is that they have come to the conclusion that if you want to have a deal you have to focus on the nuclear issue,” he said.
Satellite images show previously destroyed buildings (bottom) and a new roof over one destroyed building (top) at Isfahan nuclear site, Iran, June 21, 2025, and Feb 1, 2026. 2026
Before and after photos showing previously destroyed buildings (bottom) and a new roof over one destroyed building (top) at Isfahan nuclear site, Iran, June 21, 2025, and Feb 1, 2026 — 2026 PLANET LABS PBC/Reuters
The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the US is expected to take place in Geneva on Tuesday, with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy, representing Washington and Abbas Araghchi, the foreign minister, representing Tehran.
Pressed on the issue of shipping its stockpile of more than 400kg of highly enriched uranium to another country, Mr Takht-Ravanchi said: “It’s too early to say what will happen in the course of negotiations.”
Mr Takht-Ravanchi also claimed that the question of zero enrichment of uranium “is not an issue any more and as far as Iran is concerned, it is not on the table any more.”
That directly contradicted what Mr Trump told reporters on Friday when asked about the issue. “We don’t want any enrichment,” he said.
The ball is “in America’s court to prove that they want to do a deal”, Mr Takht-Ravanchi said, adding that if Washington “is sincere, I’m sure we will be on the road to an agreement”.
Axios, meanwhile, has reported that Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, told Mr Trump during their meeting at the White House this week that it is impossible to reach a good deal with Iran.
Even if an agreement is reached, Mr Netanyahu reportedly said that Iran cannot be trusted to abide by it.