Iran would be open to restarting nuclear negotiations with the United States if Washington approaches the talks with respect and equality, a senior Iranian official told CNN on Tuesday. However, he emphasized that Tehran will not alter the stance it held before the June attacks by the US and Israel.

“They must take the first step and demonstrate that they are prepared to engage based on the conditions we’ve outlined… everything must be conducted on equal terms and with mutual respect,” said Kamal Kharrazi, top foreign policy adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, during an exclusive interview from Tehran. “The agenda should be agreed upon ahead of time to avoid ambiguity about both the content and the process.”

Kharrazi also criticized President Donald Trump’s approach, saying, “Unfortunately, President Trump does not prioritize diplomacy and relies instead on force to achieve his aims.”

Later that evening at a White House dinner honoring Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, Trump said Iran was “very much” signaling interest in making a nuclear deal.
“They would very much like to make a deal with us,” Trump told the audience. “They call us, and we’ll probably end up doing that.”

His comments echoed remarks he made earlier in the day expressing openness to fresh negotiations.

Tehran Says Its Conditions Are Unchanged

Kharrazi made clear that Iran’s demands have not shifted since the June strikes on its nuclear facilities, insisting that uranium enrichment would continue because Iran needs fuel for energy production and medical use. He added that the country’s ballistic missile program — which he said is expanding — would not be included in any talks.

“The only subject we are prepared to discuss with the United States is the nuclear issue,” he stated.

In June, Iran and the US were in the midst of negotiations when Israel carried out a surprise attack on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. The raid ultimately led to US strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites — the first time the US had directly hit facilities inside Iran.

Nearly five months later, the extent of the damage has still not been fully evaluated, Kharrazi said.

On Sunday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told CNN that while the attacks caused significant destruction to “equipment, machinery, and buildings,” the overall nuclear program remained “intact.”
That same day, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said enrichment had halted “for now” due to the strikes.

Enrichment Levels at the Center of Any Deal

During the summer talks, the US demanded Iran stop enrichment entirely, while Iran insisted it would continue enriching uranium to low purity levels not suitable for weapons. Highly enriched uranium is critical for nuclear arms.

Kharrazi said that if negotiations resume, “the level of enrichment,” not the act itself, would be the main point of debate.

Asked whether he fears another military confrontation with Israel or the US, he responded: “Anything is possible. But we are prepared.”

CNN previously reported that Washington proposed investing in Iran’s civilian nuclear sector and joining an international consortium to oversee low-level enrichment inside the country. The proposed consortium would likely include Middle Eastern states and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Tehran has said it is open to such an arrangement but insists Iran must retain authority over its enrichment capabilities.

When asked if an agreement with the US could be reached under such a framework, Kharrazi replied, “I believe it’s possible.”

“If there are genuine negotiations, there are ways to ensure Iran continues enrichment while assuring others that Iran is not seeking nuclear weapons,” he said.

A Message for Washington

Kharrazi urged the US to change its approach.

“Begin with a positive attitude toward Iran. If they do, we will respond positively,” he said. “But that requires the US to refrain from using force against Iran. They’ve already tested that path and now understand it’s neither acceptable nor effective.