• Iran's deputy foreign minister indicates readiness to compromise to achieve a nuclear deal with the US.
• Tehran demands the lifting of US sanctions as a prerequisite for any agreement.
• Upcoming talks are set to take place in Geneva following discussions in Oman.
• Iran's nuclear enrichment levels raise international concerns about potential weapons development.
• Trump emphasizes the difficulty in reaching a deal while maintaining a military threat in the region.

Iran's deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi stated that the country is prepared to consider compromises in negotiations surrounding its nuclear program. He emphasized that the responsibility lies with the US to demonstrate sincerity in resolving the ongoing tensions and lifting sanctions, which are crippling Iran's economy. “The ball is in America’s court to prove that they want to do a deal,” he elaborated during a BBC interview, further noting that if the US is sincere, a road to an agreement could emerge, according to BBC and IndiaTimes.

The remarks from Takht-Ravanchi came amid renewed diplomatic engagements between Iran and the US, following indirect talks held in Oman earlier this month. A new round of discussions is expected to occur in Geneva, though scheduled dates were not confirmed initially. However, Takht-Ravanchi stated they would proceed on Tuesday, demonstrating the ongoing commitment to dialogue even as he described the initial discussions as being “more or less in a positive direction but it is too early to judge,” according to IndiaTimes and Le Monde.

At the core of the negotiations is Iran's nuclear program, with accusations from Western powers, especially the US and Israel, asserting that Iran seeks to develop nuclear weapons—claims that Iran has consistently denied. However, **Iran has enriched uranium to levels nearing weapons-grade** (up to 60%), which has raised international scrutiny. Takht-Ravanchi highlighted Tehran’s willingness to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium as part of a compromise, stating, “We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our programme if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” according to IndiaTimes, BBC, and Le Monde.

Takht-Ravanchi avoided ruling out the possibility of Iran agreeing to ship its stockpile of over 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium out of the country, noting it is “too early to say” what would develop in the talks. He contended that any future negotiations must concentrate solely on nuclear issues, insisting that Iran would not accept zero enrichment, which they view as a violation of their rights under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, a standpoint that diverges from US President Donald Trump's recent assertions against any enrichment, according to BBC and IndiaTimes.

Amid these complexities, US officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio, have consistently attributed delays in negotiations to Iran's actions. While Trump and other US officials have voiced support for a potential agreement, they simultaneously express concerns about the feasibility of reaching such a deal and have indicated military action as an option should negotiations fail. As tensions escalate, Takht-Ravanchi cautioned that the US military buildup in the region could lead to a "potentially traumatic scenario"—harming all involved, according to Le Monde and IndiaTimes.