Latest news with #Takht-Ravanchi
Daily Tribune
a day ago
- Politics
- Daily Tribune
Trump says not offering Iran 'anything', nor speaking to them
US President Donald Trump said yesterday he was not offering Iran anything nor talking to it "since we totally obliterated" the country's nuclear facilities. "I am not offering Iran ANYTHING, unlike Obama," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Nor am I even talking to them since we totally OBLITERATED their Nuclear Facilities." The statement comes as Iran's deputy foreign minister told the BBC that talks between Washington and Tehran cannot resume unless the US rules out further strikes on Iran. Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the British broadcaster that the US had signalled it wants to return to the negotiating table, a week after it struck three Iranian nuclear facilities. "We have not agreed to any date, we have not agreed to the modality," said Takht-Ravanchi. "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?" The US needs to be "quite clear on this very important question", he said. The two countries were in talks over Tehran's nuclear programme when Israel hit Iranian nuclear sites and military infrastructure this month, with the US joining by bombing three nuclear sites -- Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan -- on June 21. The deputy minister revealed to the BBC that the US had signalled it did "not want to engage in regime change" by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Takht-Ravanchi also said Iran should still be allowed to enrich uranium. "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," he said. Israel claims that Iran's nuclear programme is close to producing a bomb, whereas Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes. It is not clear yet how much damage the strikes inflicted on Iran's nuclear facilities, which Trump has said were "totally obliterated". UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran would probably be able to begin to produce enriched uranium "in a matter of months". Takht-Ravanchi said he did not know how long it would take.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
'Not Talking To Them Since We...': Trump Says Not Open To An Deal With Iran
US President Donald Trump said Monday he was not offering Iran anything nor talking to it "since we totally obliterated" the country's nuclear facilities. "I am not offering Iran ANYTHING, unlike Obama," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Nor am I even talking to them since we totally OBLITERATED their Nuclear Facilities." The statement comes as Iran's deputy foreign minister told the BBC that talks between Washington and Tehran cannot resume unless the US rules out further strikes on Iran. Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the British broadcaster that the US had signalled it wants to return to the negotiating table, a week after it struck three Iranian nuclear facilities. "We have not agreed to any date, we have not agreed to the modality," said Takht-Ravanchi. "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?" The US needs to be "quite clear on this very important question", he said. The two countries were in talks over Tehran's nuclear programme when Israel hit Iranian nuclear sites and military infrastructure this month, with the US joining by bombing three nuclear sites -- Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan -- on June 21. The deputy minister revealed to the BBC that the US had signalled it did "not want to engage in regime change" by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Takht-Ravanchi also said Iran should still be allowed to enrich uranium. "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," he said. Israel claims that Iran's nuclear programme is close to producing a bomb, whereas Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes. It is not clear yet how much damage the strikes inflicted on Iran's nuclear facilities, which Trump has said were "totally obliterated". UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran would probably be able to begin to produce enriched uranium "in a matter of months". Takht-Ravanchi said he did not know how long it would take. Under a 2015 deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium below 3.67 percent purity for fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018 and Iran responded by producing uranium enriched to 60 percent -- above levels for civilian usage but still below weapons grade. That material, if further refined, would theoretically be sufficient to produce more than nine nuclear bombs.
India.com
2 days ago
- Business
- India.com
Talks Or Bombs? Iran Dares US To Choose – Says No More Strikes Or No Deal
New Delhi: The dust still has not settled in Tehran. Not on the rubble. Not on the talks. Not on trust. Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi does not mince his words. He says the message from the United States came quietly through intermediaries. Washington wants to reopen talks. But Tehran has a condition. 'First,' he said, 'we need a guarantee. No more attacks.' Just weeks ago, dialogue was still on the table. The focus was narrow – Iran's nuclear programme. Then came the airstrikes. Israel hit first. They struck deep – nuclear facilities, military bases and high-ranking scientists. Iran hit back. Then the United States entered the fight. On June 21, it bombed three of Iran's nuclear sites – Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan. The damage? That depends on who is speaking. President Donald Trump says Iran's nuclear infrastructure is gone; it is flattened. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), UN's atomic watchdog, disagrees. Though its chief Rafael Grossi admits there is serious damage, yet he says it is 'not obliterated'. Iran's enrichment systems may recover in months. Or not at all. Takht-Ravanchi says it is hard to know. The bombings disrupted everything. He will not speculate on how long it would take to resume full operations. But one thing he is clear on – Iran never sought a bomb. 'It is for peaceful research and always has been,' he insisted. The material? Hard to come by. Iran built its programme with limited resources. They relied on themselves. And when asked whether Iran would abandon enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief or foreign investment, he scoffed, 'Why should we?' The enrichment level stands at 60%. The 2015 nuclear deal capped it at 3.67%. That deal, brokered by world powers, unraveled when Trump walked out in 2018. His administration called it weak, reimposed sanctions and triggered Iran's slow but steady departure from its commitments. By 2021, Iran was enriching uranium at levels that, while below weapons-grade, alarmed Western leaders. The IAEA said 90% purity was within reach, enough for several bombs. Trust broke down. Takht-Ravanchi says that is not Iran's fault. He blames Washington. He blames Israel. And he is losing patience with Europe. 'They always criticise us. But not a word about how we have been treated,' he said. If Europe cannot question American actions, he suggests, they should stay quiet. Then came another message. The United States, through mediators, assured Tehran it does not seek regime change. It does not want to target Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Takht-Ravanchi acknowledges the signal. But he is skeptical. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called on Iranians to rise up against their leaders. Trump, after endorsing a ceasefire last week, distanced himself from that view. Takht-Ravanchi responded firmly, 'That will not happen. Iranians may disagree among themselves. But when the threat is foreign, they stand together.' The ceasefire is fragile. Iran says it will hold as long as it is not attacked again. Israel's intentions? Unclear. Regional allies are working behind the scenes. Qatar, in particular, played a key role in mediating the current pause. Takht-Ravanchi acknowledged their efforts. 'We do not want war. We are open to diplomacy. But we will not be caught off guard again,' he said. For now, Iran waits for clarity, assurance and an answer to a question no one in Washington has addressed head-on. 'Will there be more bombs during the talks?' That, Takht-Ravanchi says, changes everything.
Nahar Net
2 days ago
- Politics
- Nahar Net
Trump says not offering Iran 'anything', nor speaking to them
by Naharnet Newsdesk 30 June 2025, 17:03 U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday he was not offering Iran anything nor talking to it "since we totally obliterated" the country's nuclear facilities. "I am not offering Iran ANYTHING, unlike Obama," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform. "Nor am I even talking to them since we totally OBLITERATED their Nuclear Facilities." The statement comes as Iran's deputy foreign minister told the BBC that talks between Washington and Tehran cannot resume unless the U.S. rules out further strikes on Iran. Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the British broadcaster that the U.S. had signaled it wants to return to the negotiating table, a week after it struck three Iranian nuclear facilities. "We have not agreed to any date, we have not agreed to the modality," said Takht-Ravanchi. "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?" The U.S. needs to be "quite clear on this very important question", he said. The two countries were in talks over Tehran's nuclear program when Israel hit Iranian nuclear sites and military infrastructure this month, with the U.S. joining by bombing three nuclear sites -- Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan -- on June 21. The deputy minister revealed to the BBC that the US had signaled it did "not want to engage in regime change" by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Takht-Ravanchi also said Iran should still be allowed to enrich uranium. "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," he said. Israel claims that Iran's nuclear program is close to producing a bomb, whereas Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes. It is not clear yet how much damage the strikes inflicted on Iran's nuclear facilities, which Trump has said were "totally obliterated". UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran would probably be able to begin to produce enriched uranium "in a matter of months". Takht-Ravanchi said he did not know how long it would take. Under a 2015 deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium below 3.67 percent purity for fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018 and Iran responded by producing uranium enriched to 60 percent -- above levels for civilian usage but still below weapons grade. That material, if further refined, would theoretically be sufficient to produce more than nine nuclear bombs.
NDTV
2 days ago
- Politics
- NDTV
Diplomatic Talks Cannot Resume Unless US Rules Out Further Strikes: Iran
Diplomatic talks between Washington and Tehran cannot resume unless the US rules out further strikes on Iran, its deputy foreign minister told the BBC late Sunday. Majid Takht-Ravanchi told the British broadcaster that the US had signalled it wants to return to the negotiating table, a week after it struck three Iranian nuclear facilities. "We have not agreed to any date, we have not agreed to the modality," said Takht-Ravanchi. "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?" The US needed to be "quite clear on this very important question", he said. The two countries were in talks over Tehran's nuclear programme when Israel hit Iranian nuclear sites and military infrastructure earlier this month, with the US joining by bombing three nuclear sites -- Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan -- on June 21. The deputy minister revealed to the BBC that the US had signalled it did "not want to engage in regime change" by targeting Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Takht-Ravanchi also said Iran should still be allowed to enrich uranium. "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," he said. Israel claims that Iran's nuclear programme is close to producing a bomb, whereas Tehran says it is for peaceful purposes. It is not clear yet how much damage the strikes inflicted on Iran's nuclear facilities, which US President Donald Trump had said were "totally obliterated". UN nuclear watchdog chief Rafael Grossi said Iran would probably be able to begin to produce enriched uranium "in a matter of months". Takht-Ravanchi said he did not know how long it would take. Under a 2015 deal, Iran was allowed to enrich uranium below 3.67 percent purity for fuel for commercial nuclear power plants. Trump abandoned the agreement in 2018 and Iran responded by producing uranium enriched to 60 percent -- above levels for civilian usage but still below weapons grade. That material, if further refined, would theoretically be sufficient to produce more than nine nuclear bombs.
