Iran Demands Security Guarantee Before Nuclear Talks Resume

Iran Demands Security Guarantee Before Nuclear Talks Resume \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Iran signaled readiness to restart nuclear talks with the U.S., provided there are guarantees against future attacks. Foreign Minister Araghchi stressed that recent Israeli and U.S. strikes complicate diplomatic efforts. Iran suspended cooperation with the U.N. nuclear watchdog and demands security assurances before engaging further.

Quick Looks

• Iran is open to resuming nuclear negotiations with the U.S.
• Foreign Minister Araghchi insists talks must not lead to conflict.
• Recent Israeli and U.S. attacks worsened trust and escalated tensions.
• Iran suspended collaboration with the IAEA after the strikes.
• Future inspections will be determined “case by case” under Iranian law.
• Tehran continues uranium enrichment; U.S. firmly opposes it.
• Iran cites safety concerns at bombed nuclear sites.
• President Pezeshkian confirms airstrikes severely damaged facilities.

Deep Look

Iran has made it clear that it is open to resuming nuclear negotiations with the United States, but only if it receives firm assurances that no further military attacks will be launched against it. This position was reiterated by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi during a recent address to foreign diplomats based in Tehran, as reported by state-run media.

In his remarks, Araghchi emphasized that the Islamic Republic has always shown a readiness to engage in talks over its nuclear program, both in the past and moving forward. However, he stressed that these talks must come with solid guarantees to prevent any return to violence or military escalation. “There must be confidence that the renewal of negotiations will not lead to conflict,” he said. “Otherwise, the process would be fundamentally flawed from the beginning.”

The minister’s comments come on the heels of a tense military standoff that saw Israeli forces carry out a sustained 12-day bombardment of Iranian military and nuclear facilities. This assault was soon followed by a U.S. airstrike on June 22, which inflicted severe damage on key elements of Iran’s nuclear infrastructure. Araghchi stated that these attacks had significantly undermined trust and made it far more difficult to achieve a diplomatic solution through negotiation.

“If the United States and other parties are genuinely interested in reviving the talks,” Araghchi noted, “they must begin by issuing binding commitments that such military actions will not be repeated. The targeting of our nuclear infrastructure has seriously hindered efforts toward a diplomatic settlement.”

In response to the strikes, Iran suspended its cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the United Nations’ nuclear watchdog. As a result, inspectors were forced to leave Iran, and access to critical sites was revoked. This move has further strained relations between Tehran and the international community, which is deeply concerned about the opacity surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions.

Under Iranian law, Araghchi said, future cooperation with the IAEA will now be reviewed on a “case-by-case” basis. He explained that Iran’s interests and national security will guide whether or not the country allows inspections to proceed. Moreover, he insisted that any future site visits by IAEA inspectors must account for both the safety of personnel and the sensitive security nature of the sites in question. “There is a real risk of exposure to radioactive substances and unexploded ordinance at the bombed sites,” he cautioned. “The safety of everyone involved, including inspectors, must be prioritized.”

The minister also reinforced Iran’s commitment to enriching uranium on its own soil — a stance that has long been a major sticking point in talks with Washington. Enrichment, even at lower levels, is a process that can potentially lead to the development of nuclear weapons. While Iran claims its program is peaceful, the United States has consistently insisted that Iran must end all enrichment activities as a precondition for any meaningful agreement.

This hardline U.S. position has persisted since the Trump administration’s 2018 decision to withdraw from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the landmark 2015 nuclear deal. Under the deal, Iran agreed to limit its enrichment levels in exchange for sanctions relief. However, since the U.S. withdrawal, Iran has ramped up its enrichment activities, reaching levels as high as 60% — just shy of the 90% threshold required for weapons-grade uranium.

Israel, for its part, has defended its strikes on Iranian facilities by asserting that Tehran is perilously close to developing a nuclear weapon. Israeli intelligence believes Iran is just a technical step away from acquiring the necessary material and capability to create a bomb. However, this view is not universally shared. Both U.S. intelligence agencies and the IAEA have previously concluded that Iran ended its coordinated nuclear weapons program in 2003. Still, Iran’s ongoing enrichment activities have continued to raise alarm bells in Washington, Tel Aviv, and beyond.

Adding to the tension, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian recently disclosed in an interview that the U.S. airstrikes had caused such extensive destruction that Iranian officials have yet to gain access to some of the bombed sites. “The damage to our nuclear facilities is severe,” Pezeshkian stated. “We are still working to secure and assess these locations.”

His remarks confirm the seriousness of the situation and suggest that any negotiations will require significant groundwork to rebuild trust and transparency. The airstrikes have not only disrupted physical infrastructure but also shaken Iran’s confidence in the potential for peaceful dialogue with Western powers.

As of now, the path forward remains unclear. Iran’s demand for security guarantees is unlikely to be easily met by the U.S., especially with mounting concerns about Iran’s enrichment activities. Nevertheless, Araghchi’s speech signals that Tehran is not shutting the door entirely on diplomacy—it is merely raising the price for reentry.

The next phase in U.S.-Iran relations will likely depend on whether both sides are willing to take steps that go beyond rhetoric. For now, Iran’s insistence on guarantees before resuming talks marks a critical turning point in what has long been a volatile and high-stakes negotiation.

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