News Today: Iran demands US rule out new strikes before nuclear talks resume

Iran has made it clear that the US must firmly rule out any further military strikes if it truly wishes to restart diplomatic negotiations. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi revealed that the Trump administration had approached Tehran through mediators expressing willingness to resume talks, but had “not made their position clear” on the critical issue of future attacks.

The situation escalated after Israel launched military operations against Iranian nuclear and military sites on June 13, disrupting planned indirect talks in Muscat. The conflict deepened when the US bombed three major Iranian nuclear facilities—Fordo, Natanz, and Isfahan—last weekend. While the full extent of the damage remains unclear, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) confirmed severe, though not total, damage.

Takht-Ravanchi stressed Iran’s refusal to abandon its uranium enrichment program, insisting it serves peaceful purposes. “To demand zero enrichment and threaten bombing if we don’t comply is the law of the jungle,” he said.

Iran’s parliament recently voted to suspend cooperation with the IAEA, accusing it of siding with Israel and the US. Meanwhile, President Trump warned he would “absolutely” consider new strikes if intelligence showed Iran enriching uranium to worrying levels.

No date has been set for fresh talks, and Takht-Ravanchi questioned whether dialogue could proceed under threat. He rejected calls to scale back enrichment in exchange for sanctions relief, reiterating Iran’s peaceful intentions.

Trump withdrew from the 2015 nuclear deal in 2018, prompting Iran to exceed enrichment limits, now reportedly having enough 60%-enriched uranium for several nuclear bombs. Takht-Ravanchi criticized Western leaders for justifying attacks instead of condemning them.

Although the ceasefire with Israel holds, its future remains uncertain. “We do not want war,” Takht-Ravanchi said, “but we must stay prepared.” He credited Arab allies, especially Qatar, for helping broker the fragile calm, emphasizing dialogue over conflict.