Iran rejects talks on ballistic missile program with US

Iran has refused to discuss its ballistic missile program with the United States, Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi said in an interview with BBC.

Takht-Ravanchi noted that US officials, including Senator Marco Rubio, have pushed for issues related to Iran’s missile capabilities and support for armed groups in the region to be part of any potential agreement, Caliber.Az reports.

He also expressed concern over contradictory statements from the US president.

"We are hearing that they are interested in negotiations," he said. "They have said it publicly; they have said it in private conversations through Oman that they are interested to have these matters resolved peacefully."

When asked about more than 40,000 US soldiers now being stationed in the region, Takht-Ravanchi responded, "it would be a different game."

"We are hopeful we can do this through diplomacy, although we can't be 100% sure," he reflected, adding Iran has "to be alert so we are not surprised".

Deputy FM further cautioned that a new war would be “traumatic, bad for everybody,” emphasising that its consequences would affect all parties, especially the initiators of the conflict.

Meanwhile, Takht-Ravanchi noted that, unlike the ballistic missile program, Iran is willing to explore compromises in nuclear talks if the US is open to discussing sanctions, leaving room for a diplomatic resolution.

By Jeyhun Aghazada