Middle East Iran Demands End to US Strikes Before Nuclear Talks Can Resume

[Social Media]

 

Iran Demands End to US Strikes Before Nuclear Talks Can Resume

 

Iran will not return to diplomatic negotiations with the United States unless Washington commits to halting further military strikes, the country’s deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi has told the BBC. His comments follow a period of escalating conflict between Iran, Israel, and the US, which included American airstrikes on three of Iran’s nuclear facilities.

 

Takht-Ravanchi said the Trump administration had sent messages through intermediaries expressing a desire to resume talks, but had failed to clarify whether it would refrain from further attacks during any negotiation process. “Right now we are seeking an answer to this question: are we going to see a repetition of an act of aggression while we are engaging in dialogue?” he asked. “What they are going to offer us in order to make the necessary confidence required for such a dialogue” remained unclear, he said.

 

The situation deteriorated rapidly after Israel launched a surprise military operation on June 13, targeting Iranian nuclear and military sites and assassinating key figures. The attack derailed a planned sixth round of mostly indirect talks that were scheduled for Muscat two days later. In response, Iran fired missiles at Israel, and hostilities continued for 12 days, during which the United States bombed Iran’s Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan nuclear sites.

 

The deputy minister reaffirmed Iran’s right to enrich uranium, insisting the programme was for peaceful research purposes. “We have been denied access to nuclear material,” he said, “so needed to rely on ourselves.” He added, “The level of that can be discussed, the capacity can be discussed, but to say that you should not have enrichment, you should have zero enrichment, and if you do not agree, we will bomb you — that is the law of the jungle.”

 

Tensions between Iran and the IAEA have also worsened. Iran’s parliament voted to suspend cooperation with the agency, accusing it of siding with Israel and the United States. Takht-Ravanchi said Iran had no reason to consider altering its nuclear programme in exchange for sanctions relief or investment. “Why should we agree to such a proposal?” he asked. He reiterated that uranium enrichment to 60% was for non-military purposes.

 

Under the 2015 nuclear agreement, Iran was restricted to enrichment levels of 3.67% and prohibited from conducting any enrichment at its Fordo plant for 15 years. But after Trump withdrew from the deal in 2018, citing its failure to block Iran’s path to a nuclear weapon, Iran began violating its terms. By 2021, Iran had resumed enrichment at Fordo and, according to the IAEA, accumulated enough 60%-enriched uranium to potentially construct nine nuclear bombs.

 

He also said the US had conveyed, again via intermediaries, that it was not attempting to carry out regime change in Iran by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had called for Iranians to overthrow the clerical regime, Trump has recently denied supporting such an outcome. Takht-Ravanchi dismissed the idea, calling it “a futile exercise,” and warned that foreign aggression would only unite the Iranian people, despite domestic criticism of the government.

 

He concluded by saying the ceasefire with Israel remained fragile but would be respected “as long as there is no military attack against us.” Gulf Arab nations, especially Qatar, have reportedly played an active role in facilitating the ceasefire. “We do not want war,” he said. “We want to engage in dialogue and diplomacy, but we have to be prepared, we have to be cautious, not to be surprised again.”

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC  2025-07-01

 

 

[AustinRacing]

They were running out of anti-missle munitions hence stopped the bombing. It will resume once stock arrives. And for Iran the answer should be “would you like fries with that”. Next time they’ll be better prepared with Russian and Chinese stuff. Israel on its last legs. 

[Old Farang]

Someone is on its last legs, and it is Iran, not Israel, 2 more days of Israel/US action will put the problem to rest.

[JonnyF]

Just now, Old Farang said:

Someone is on its last legs, and it is Iran, not Israel, 2 more days of Israel/US action will put the problem to rest.

 

Indeed.

 

Not only Iran, but Palestine as well.

 

Neither are in much of a position to demand anything. 

[Quentin Zen]

11 hours ago, Social Media said:

unless Washington commits to halting further military strikes

make us!!!!!!   OK, OK, I'm not 12.   

 

Just kidding, I am.   Make us!!! Make us!!!!  

 

Imagine being Genghis Khan and you wake up in a bad mood.  millions, gone.   

 

the only way this will end if you all send me exactly 11,111,111.11 USD.   If not, I will send crazy farangs to Phuket and Pattaya for all of eternity.  

[HappyExpat57]

Iran isn't exactly in a position to be "demanding" anything.

[ChipButty]

One wrong move from Iran and it's over for them, get the regime out and give the country back to the people, 

[Eric Loh]

Fair demand as US or Israel has no legitimate justfication to bomb or attack any country. The bombing and attack violated the UN Charter which prohibit use of force except for self defense or with the authorisation of the Security Council. US learned nothing with the illegal Iraq invasion on a false pretext. 

[Srikcir]

On 7/1/2025 at 4:02 AM, Social Media said:

foreign aggression would only unite the Iranian people, despite domestic criticism of the government.

"Why Iranians Are Standing With Their Regime - Even When They Hate It," June 27, 2025

https://www.ndtv.com/opinion/why-iranians-are-backing-their-regime-even-if-they-hate-it-8774805

• "...while the recent conflict has exposed the frailties of the theocratic regime in Iran, there is no proper alternative inside or outside the country to supplant it. On the other hand, to see the destruction of one's country, to see nuclear scientists being assassinated with impunity or public broadcasts being bombed is to see one's own nation being attacked, not a regime. This usually results in the public closing ranks around its government, no matter how disliked otherwise."
• "Any transformation, therefore, should be effected from inside, from within Iranian society, by Iranians themselves." 

How likely is it that POTUS Trump would allow himself to be diminished politically to give up his inflated ego in exchange for Iranian society to achieve regime change, especially after he committed to the total destruction of Iran?