Iran ready to discuss compromises to reach nuclear deal, minister tells BBC in Tehran

Iran signalled on Sunday that it is prepared to consider “compromises” in long‑running nuclear negotiations with the United States — but only on the condition that Washington engages seriously on the issue of sanctions relief, a senior Iranian official told the BBC in Tehran. The comments, made by Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht‑Ravanchi, come as indirect talks between Tehran and Washington are set to resume this week in Geneva, raising cautious hopes of progress after years of stalemate.
“We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our programme if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” Takht‑Ravanchi said in the BBC interview, stressing that Tehran’s willingness to compromise hinges on reciprocal engagement by the United States. “The ball is in America’s court to prove that they want to do a deal,” he added, underscoring his government’s emphasis on U.S. concessions as part of any negotiated settlement.
The Business Standard
Context of the Talks
The comments follow a first round of indirect negotiations between U.S. and Iranian officials that took place earlier this month in Oman, under the auspices of several regional mediators. With the next round scheduled to begin in Geneva, both sides are under pressure to find common ground after years of complex diplomacy.
The Business Standard
Iran’s position, as outlined by Takht‑Ravanchi and other officials, combines a readiness to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme with firm insistence that sanctions relief must be part of the equation. Tehran has also reiterated that core elements of its programme, including uranium enrichment, remain non‑negotiable — although it has offered potential adjustments, such as diluting highly enriched material, if sanctions are lifted.
The Business Standard
That position reflects a longstanding sticking point in negotiations: the United States and its allies want strict limits on Iran’s nuclear activities to ensure the programme remains peaceful, while Tehran seeks economic relief and political leverage in return for any constraints. The negotiators hope to revive aspects of the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), which eased Western sanctions in exchange for nuclear limits, though both sides have diverged sharply over how to reconstruct a mutually acceptable framework.
The Sanctions Issue at the Forefront
Sanctions remain the central issue for Iranian negotiators. Decades of punitive measures — reimposed on Tehran after the United States withdrew from the JCPOA in 2018 — have crippled Iran’s economy, and officials in Tehran have insisted that any credible deal must meaningfully ease those restrictions. Takht‑Ravanchi’s comments make clear that Iran is not prepared to concede nuclear limitations in isolation from broader economic relief.
For Iran, sanctions touch ordinary citizens as well as government revenue streams, and easing them could help stabilize its currency and oil exports. But U.S. policymakers — mindful of domestic political dynamics and strategic concerns — have been cautious about how much relief to offer, especially without verifiable limits on Tehran’s nuclear programme.
Iran’s readiness to discuss compromises also indicates a nuanced diplomatic posture. While its leaders repeatedly deny seeking nuclear weapons, Western capitals remain sceptical about Tehran’s intentions, given its enrichment of uranium to 60 percent purity — a level close to weapons‑grade — in recent years. Tehran argues such enrichment is for peaceful purposes, but the capability has been a core concern for U.S. negotiators.
The Business Standard
Scope and Limitations of Negotiations
Takht‑Ravanchi made clear that Iran does not intend to link nuclear discussions to other contentious issues, such as its ballistic missile programme or regional activities — areas Washington and some U.S. allies, particularly Israel, want included in broader negotiations. By limiting the talks strictly to the nuclear file and sanctions, Tehran aims to focus diplomacy on achievable goals while deflecting demands it views as outside the scope of the nuclear agreement.
The scheduled Geneva talks will bring together Iranian negotiators and U.S. envoys, including special representatives from Washington, with Oman playing a continuing mediating role. Officials in both capitals have described the process as cautious but constructive, though neither side has guaranteed a breakthrough.
Broader Implications
The renewed talks come at a time of heightened regional tensions. Iran has faced pressure over its nuclear programme from several angles, including regional adversaries and international sanctions, while domestic political considerations shape Tehran’s negotiating strategy. For U.S. and allied policymakers, the risk of an unconstrained nuclear programme remains a top security concern.
If successful, renewed diplomacy could ease one of the most persistent flashpoints in U.S.–Iran relations. But as Takht‑Ravanchi’s remarks suggest, significant gaps remain over sanctions and nuclear limits, and both sides will need to demonstrate political will and flexibility in the coming talks.