The U.S. Must Provide Guarantees Before Any Talks Begin
WANA (Jul 26) – Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister, stated in an interview that before any new dialogue with the United States can begin, Tehran requires clear guarantees to prevent a repeat of military strikes. “We do not want to be surprised by military attacks in the midst of negotiations again. That would be a betrayal of diplomacy,” he said.
Takht-Ravanchi confirmed that messages are being exchanged between Iran and the U.S. through mediators, including Oman, but said this process has been disrupted by recent Israeli and American attacks. “The U.S. must convince us that such attacks will not happen again,” he emphasized.
Journalists Gather Outside Iranian Consulate in Turkey / WANA News Agency
He also referred to recent talks between Iran and the three European countries (the UK, France, and Germany) held in Turkey, noting: “In these discussions, we reiterated the necessity of preserving our right to enrichment, lifting sanctions, and addressing the technical aspects of the deal. Uranium enrichment is an inseparable part of any nuclear agreement, and demands to halt it are unacceptable.”
In another part of his remarks, Takht-Ravanchi described recent strikes by the U.S. and the Israeli regime against Iran as “blatant acts of aggression” that have led to the martyrdom of over a thousand people. He said these attacks are clear violations of international law and must be condemned by the international community.
On the possibility of resuming talks with the U.S., he stressed: “We are not interested in talks for the sake of talks. They must yield tangible results and be based on a win-win principle. Any form of U.S. coercion is unacceptable.”
People attend the funeral procession of Iranian military commanders, nuclear scientists and others killed in Israeli strikes, in Tehran, Iran, June 28, 2025. Majid Asgaripour/WANA (West Asia News Agency)
He also addressed Iran’s response to the U.S. attacks, saying: “This was not an act of weakness. It was a legitimate act of self-defense. We were in contact with Qatar, but this response had nothing to do with that country.”
Regarding the current ceasefire with Israel, Takht-Ravanchi stated: “Iran does not seek to escalate tensions, but will take any necessary action to defend itself. Israel’s strikes on civilian sites in Iran are crimes against humanity, and their repetition cannot be ignored.”
Takht-Ravanchi also called for an end to Israel’s impunity, saying: “The ongoing genocide in Gaza has only been possible with U.S. military and political support. The UN Security Council has failed in this regard and must be reformed. If the silence continues, Israel may expand its attacks to other countries, posing a threat to the entire region.”
He concluded by urging Islamic and regional countries to unite in resisting such aggression and to pressure the United States to end its unconditional support for Israel.
