Iran signals willingness for confidence-building measures amid nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has affirmed Tehran’s readiness to undertake any necessary confidence-building measures to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme, while calling for the lifting of US sanctions in return.

In an interview aired on July 22 on Fox News, Araghchi emphasised Iran’s openness to negotiations with the United States, albeit indirectly “for the time being,” and underlined the importance of a “win-win” solution.

“We are ready to do any confidence-building measure needed to prove that Iran’s nuclear programme is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever, and Iran would never go for nuclear weapons,” Araghchi said. He stressed that in exchange, Tehran expects the US to lift sanctions imposed on the country.

Araghchi described Iran’s uranium enrichment as both a scientific achievement and a matter of national pride, noting that while recent US and Israeli air strikes caused serious damage to the programme, Iran cannot abandon it.

He reiterated that previous negotiations, such as the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), demonstrated that a negotiated settlement is possible. “There is a negotiated solution for our nuclear programme. We have done it once in the past. We are ready to do it once again,” Araghchi said.

The interview came against the backdrop of heightened tensions after Israel’s surprise air raids on Iranian nuclear and military facilities in June, which severely affected Iran’s enrichment capabilities. Despite these attacks, Iran’s Atomic Energy Organisation is still assessing the damage and plans to report its findings to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

Araghchi also stated that any future requests for IAEA inspections would be “carefully considered,” underscoring Tehran’s continued cooperation with the agency.

By Vugar Khalilov