Iran will consider nuclear compromises if sanctions on table: ‘Ball is in America’s court’

Iran is willing to consider compromises on its nuclear program if the US is ready to discuss lifting sanctions, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi tells the BBC in an interview in Tehran.

Takht-Ravanchi says 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 tells the British broadcaster.

When asked whether Tehran would agree for its highly enriched uranium to be shipped out of Iran, the official says it is “too early to say what will happen in the course of negotiations.”

The Iranian official reiterates that Tehran’s ballistic missile program is not up for discussion.

“When we were attacked by Israelis and Americans, our missiles came to our rescue so how can we accept depriving ourselves of our defensive capabilities,” Takht-Ravanchi claims.

Asked about Trump’s apparent support for regime change in Iran, Takht-Ravanchi says: “We are not hearing that in the private messages.”

Iran, whose leaders are sworn to destroy Israel, denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities.