- By Priyanka Koul
- Sun, 15 Feb 2026 10:05 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Iran is seeking a nuclear agreement with the United States that would bring economic advantages for both sides, according to an Iranian diplomat, who spoke on Sunday ahead of the second round of talks between Tehran and Washington.
Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi has indicated Iran's willingness to compromise on its nuclear programme in return for sanctions relief, telling the BBC on Sunday that the responsibility is "in America's court to prove that they want to reach a deal."
The senior official referred to the Iranian atomic chief's statement on Monday, in which he suggested that Iran could agree to dilute its highly enriched uranium in exchange for the lifting of sanctions, as an example of Iran's flexibility, according to Reuters.
However, Takht-Ravanchi reiterated that Tehran would not accept a complete halt to uranium enrichment, a key point of contention in previous negotiations, with Washington viewing enrichment within Iran as a potential route to nuclear weapons.
Iran maintains it does not seek nuclear weapons. In June, the US, along with Israel, carried out airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, while simultaneously ramping up economic pressure on Tehran.
Earlier this week, at a White House meeting, President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed that the US would work to reduce Iran's oil exports to China, Axios reported on Saturday.
Since China purchases over 80 per cent of Iran's oil, any reduction in this trade would significantly reduce Iran’s oil revenues.
Earlier this month, Iran and the US reopened negotiations aimed at resolving their long-standing dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme and preventing further military escalation. The US has deployed a second aircraft carrier to the region and is preparing for the possibility of an extended military campaign if talks fail, US officials told Reuters.
"For the agreement to have lasting success, it is crucial that the US also reaps substantial and immediate economic rewards," said Hamid Ghanbari, Deputy Director of Economic Diplomacy at Iran's Foreign Ministry, speaking to the semi-official Fars news agency.
While Iran has warned of retaliation in the event of a US attack, Ghanbari struck a more conciliatory tone on Sunday. "Negotiations also encompass areas of mutual interest, such as oil and gas fields, joint ventures, mining investments, and even aircraft purchases," he said, noting that the 2015 nuclear deal had not sufficiently addressed US economic interests.
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio asserted that President Trump has made it clear he prefers a diplomatic resolution. "No one has ever successfully negotiated with Iran, but we are going to try," Rubio remarked.
In 2018, Trump withdrew the US from the nuclear deal that had eased sanctions on Iran in exchange for limitations on its nuclear programme, reinstating tough sanctions on Tehran.