Iran Open To Compromises To Reach Nuclear Deal With US If Trump Lifts Sanctions: Minister

Tehran: Iran is willing to consider compromises on its nuclear program, saying it is ready to move towards a deal with the US, but only if Washington is prepared to lift sanctions, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in an interview.

What did Majid Takht-Ravanchi say?

Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi in an interview with BBC in Tehran said that the ball is "in America's court to prove that they want to do a deal."

"If they are sincere, I'm sure we will be on the road to an agreement," he said during the interview.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi said that Iran is prepared to discuss curbs on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions, but has repeatedly ruled out linking the issue to other questions including missiles.

“We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our programme if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” he told the BBC.

What about the initial talks?

The US and Iran held indirect talks in Oman earlier in February.

Takht-Ravanchi also confirmed that a second round of nuclear talks would take place on Tuesday in Geneva, after Tehran and Washington resumed discussions in Oman earlier this month.

Talking about the earlier talks, he said that, "(Initial talks went) more or less in a positive direction, but it is too early to judge."

What about uranium?

Takht-Ravanchi also said that Iran is open to addressing concerns over its stockpile of highly enriched uranium, but stressed that sanctions relief must be part of the conversation.

Replying to the question regarding whether Iran would agree to ship out its more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium, as it did under the 2015 nuclear deal, Takht-Ravanchi said "it was too early to say what will happen in the course of negotiations," the BBC report added.

What did US say?

The development comes as US officials continue to argue that Iran is delaying progress in the long-running negotiations. 

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Saturday said President Donald Trump preferred a deal but it was “very hard to do” one with Iran.