Iran Says It Would Accept Nuclear Limits if US Lifts Sanctions

Iran said on Monday it would accept “limitations on nuclear development” for a specified period and reduce uranium enrichment levels if the United States lifts sanctions, but ruled out completely halting enrichment.

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, political deputy to Iran’s foreign minister, said Iran would lower its uranium enrichment levels in exchange for sanctions relief but did not specify how much of a reduction it would make.

"Iran can be flexible on the capacities and limits of enrichment, but cannot agree to stop enrichment under any circumstance because it's essential, and we need to rely on ourselves, not on empty promises," Majid Takht-e Ravanchi told Kyodo News in an interview.

Iran currently enriches uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to the roughly 90 per cent needed for nuclear weapons.

Complete cessation of uranium enrichment is “out of the question,” Takht-Ravanchi said.

The official said nuclear negotiations with the US have stalled due to serious disagreements.

He claimed the United States “deceived Tehran by pretending to engage in dialogue” while participating in military attacks on Iran’s nuclear sites during the talks.

Iran would seek compensation during negotiations and is currently in contact with the US through an intermediary country, Takht-Ravanchi said, though no timeline was given for resuming talks.