Iran Signals Willingness for U.S. Talks Despite Tensions

A senior Iranian official told Reuters on Wednesday that Iran is ready to engage in talks with the United States to resolve disputes, despite President Donald Trump’s decision to restore his "maximum pressure" campaign on the country.

The official stated, "Iran is ready to give the United States a chance to resolve disputes," adding that discussions over the Palestinian issue and the nuclear deal should be treated separately. The official also clarified Iran's stance on Gaza, saying, "Iran does not agree with any displacement of Palestinians and has communicated this through various channels."

The official stressed that the nuclear deal and concerns over Iran’s nuclear program should not be conflated with other regional matters. "If Washington is seeking a deal, it must rein in Israel," the official asserted, referring to U.S. relations with Israel, which have been a point of contention.

Iran's Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi echoed this sentiment, explaining that U.S. concerns about Iran’s nuclear ambitions are "not a complicated issue" and can be addressed, given Tehran's opposition to weapons of mass destruction. "Iran has no intention to build nuclear weapons," Araqchi “reaffirmed”.

Trump’s "maximum pressure" campaign includes measures aimed at driving Iran’s oil exports to zero to prevent the country from developing nuclear weapons, a goal Tehran insists it does not pursue.