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bnm Tehran bureau

Iran demands US compensation before resuming nuclear talks

Iran demands US compensation before resuming nuclear talks
July 31, 2025

Iran will not agree to resume nuclear negotiations with the United States until Washington compensates the Islamic Republic for losses incurred during last month's 12-day conflict and provides assurances against future attacks, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on July 30.

Araghchi told the Financial Times that Iran would not accept "business as usual" following the June conflict with Israel, which the US briefly joined despite having been engaged in talks with Tehran.

"They should explain why they attacked us in the middle of negotiations, and they have to ensure that they are not going to repeat that during future talks," Araghchi said in Tehran. "And they have to compensate Iran for the damage that they have done."

The Iranian foreign minister said he and US envoy Steve Witkoff exchanged messages during and since the war, with Araghchi telling the American there needed to be a "win-win solution" to resolve the years-long standoff over Iran's nuclear programme.

"The road to negotiation is narrow but it's not impossible. I need to convince my hierarchy that if we go for negotiation, the other side is coming with real determination for a win-win deal," he said.

The conflict erupted on June 13 after Israel launched large-scale air strikes on Iran, 48 hours before Araghchi and Witkoff were to hold a sixth round of indirect talks.

Israel killed more than 1,000 people, according to Iranian authorities, during the 12-day war, hitting nuclear sites, destroying much of Iran's air defence, assassinating top military commanders and at least 13 nuclear scientists.

Two days before brokering a ceasefire, Washington bombed Iran's two main uranium enrichment sites, Fordow and Natanz, and fired missiles at a separate plant in Isfahan, severely damaging facilities that Tehran spent billions of dollars developing.

Araghchi said the war had fostered mounting resistance to negotiations within Iran's ruling establishment, as well as calls from some to weaponise the nuclear programme, though he insisted the theocracy remained committed to a peaceful, civilian programme.

"Anti-negotiation feelings are very high," Araghchi said. "People are telling me, 'Don't waste your time anymore, don't be cheated by them.'"

 

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