Iran is ready take any necessary steps to reach a deal with the United States, the country's Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said on Tuesday, as the two countries head to a new round of talks.
The Iranian diplomat said any US strike on Iran is "a real gamble," adding that Tehran is ready to reach a deal with Washington as soon as possible.
Takht-Ravanchi, speaking during the Israel-Iran war in June, told the BBC that the US must "rule out" any strikes against Iran in order to hold further nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic.
He told the British public broadcaster that the US "has not made their position clear" regarding nuclear talks, as the Trump administration informed the Islamic Republic through mediators that they wish to resume negotiations.
The United States must be "quite clear on this very important question. What are they going to offer us in order to make the necessary confidence required for such a dialogue?" the minister said.
Iran 'ready to compromise' on nuclear stance, deputy fm tells BBC
Earlier this month, he told the BBC that Iran is ready to consider compromising on its nuclear stance if the US will do the same regarding its sanctions.
"We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our programme if they are ready to talk about sanctions," Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC, pointing to Tehran's willingness to dilute its enriched uranium as evidence.
The ball is "in America's court to prove that they want to do a deal," Takht-Ravanchi said, adding that "If they are sincere, I'm sure we will be on the road to an agreement."
Takht-Ravanchi clarified that reducing uranium enrichment to zero is not on the table for Iran. “It is not part of the negotiations,” he said.
Amichai Stein and Miriam Sela-Eitam contributed to this report.