The Iranian deputy foreign minister also pointed to Tehran’s offer to dilute its near weapons-grade level uranium.
Hours after US President Donald Trump warned Iran of “traumatic” consequences if it didn’t agree to a deal, Iranian deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi on Sunday said that his country is ready to consider “compromises” to reach a nuclear deal with the US if Washington is willing to lift sanctions.
“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,” Ravanchi said during an interview with the BBC.
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On Trump’s threat, the Iranian minister said that the consequences would be “traumatic” for all and not just for Tehran.
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“It will be traumatic…bad for everybody. It is not as if Iran will suffer only; everybody will suffer, particularly those who have initiated this aggression,” he said.
The US has accused Iran of holding up progress in the negotiations. However, Ravanchi asserted that the ball is now in America’s court.
“If they are sincere, I’m sure we will be on the road to an agreement,” he added.
The US has been building up its military presence, including aircraft carriers, near Iran and Trump has threatened to launch strikes if the nuclear deal cannot be reached.
The recent anti-government protests in Iran and the Ayatollah Ali Khamenei-led regime’s violent crackdown against demonstrators, killing thousands, have further complicated the diplomatic environment.
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Trump had vowed to intervene militarily if Iran killed protesters but stopped after Iranian authorities reportedly reached out for talks.
Both countries have held indirect talks in Oman earlier this month and another round of talks is likely to take place in Geneva on Tuesday, February 17.
The Iranian deputy foreign minister also pointed to Tehran’s offer to dilute its near weapons-grade level uranium.
“We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our programme if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” said Takht-Ravanchi.
Currently, Iran is believed to have been holding around 400 kg of 60 per cent enriched uranium. When asked if the country would move its stockpile out of the country, Ravanchi was non-committal.
“It was too early to say what will happen in the course of negotiations,” he added.
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