Takht-Ravanchi confirmed that a second round of nuclear talks would take place on Tuesday in Geneva, after Tehran and Washington resumed discussions in Oman earlier this month.<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\tGet The Times of Israel’s Daily Edition
\n\t\t\tby email and never miss our top stories\n\t\t<\/p>\n
\t\t\t\tBy signing up, you agree to the terms<\/a><\/p>\n \u201c(Initial talks went) more or less in a positive direction, but it is too early to judge,\u201d Takht-Ravanchi told the BBC.<\/p>\n \t Asked if his country was willing to transfer its stockpile of enriched uranium to a third country, the diplomat said \u201cit was too early to say what will happen in the course of negotiations.\u201d<\/p>\n Iran\u2019s atomic chief said on Monday the country could agree to dilute its most highly enriched uranium in exchange for all financial sanctions being lifted. Takht-Ravanchi used this example in the BBC interview to highlight Iran\u2019s flexibility, though he pushed back on the idea that Tehran would fully give up its ability to enrich. The \u201cissue of zero enrichment is not an issue anymore and as far as Iran is concerned, it is not on the table anymore,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n The diplomat also pushed back on the idea of giving up Iran\u2019s ballistic missile<\/a> arsenal, which Israel seeks to include in any deal between the Washington and Tehran.<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we were attacked by Israelis and Americans, our missiles came to our rescue so how can we accept depriving ourselves of our defensive capabilities?\u201d Takht-Ravanchi said, referring to last year\u2019s 12-day war with Israel, during which Iran launched hundreds of missiles at Israel, which killed nearly three dozen Israeli civilians and wounded thousands.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are hearing that they are interested in negotiations,\u201d the senior diplomat said, though he lamented the mixed messages from the US, noting that what Trump says publicly is different from the messages Iran receives in private. \u201cThey have said it publicly; they have said it in private conversations through Oman that they are interested to have these matters resolved peacefully.\u201d<\/p>\n \t Trump has repeatedly threated to use military force against Iran if the talks fail, and said<\/a> Friday that regime change \u201cseems like that would be the best thing that could happen.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe are not hearing that in the private messages,\u201d Takht-Ravanchi said, adding: \u201cIf we feel this is an existential threat, we will respond accordingly.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cIt is not wise to even think about such a very dangerous scenario because the whole region will be in a mess,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n \u201cWe see an almost unanimous agreement in the region against war,\u201d he continued. \u201cWe are hopeful we can do this through diplomacy, although we can\u2019t be 100 percent sure.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWe will do our best but the other side also has to prove that they are also sincere,\u201d Takht-Ravanchi said.<\/p>\n A US delegation, including envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, will meet with the Iranians on Tuesday morning, a source had told Reuters on Friday, with Omani representatives mediating the US-Iran contacts.<\/p>\n \t Iran, whose leaders are sworn to destroy Israel, denies seeking to acquire nuclear weapons, but has enriched uranium to levels that have no peaceful application, obstructed international inspectors from checking its nuclear facilities, and expanded its ballistic missile capabilities.<\/p>\n The Islamic Republic has refused to expand the scope of the negotiations to include its ballistic missile program and support for regional proxy forces, which Israel is demanding be included in any deal.<\/p>\n Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, returning from a meeting with Trump at the White House, on Thursday\u00a0said\u00a0any agreement with Iran must cover \u201cnot only the nuclear issue, but also ballistic missiles and Iran\u2019s regional proxies.\u201d<\/p>\n The premier expressed \u201cgeneral skepticism about the possibility of reaching any agreement with Iran,\u201d but said Trump believes the Iranians could be forced into \u201ca good deal.\u201d<\/p>\n
If so, we have a request.\u00a0<\/p>\n Every day during the past two years of war and rising global anti-Zionism and antisemitism, our journalists kept you abreast of the most important developments that merit your attention. Millions of people rely on ToI for fact-based coverage of Israel and the Jewish world.\u00a0<\/p>\n We care about Israel – and we know you do too. So we have an ask for this new year of 2026: express your values by joining The Times of Israel Community, an exclusive group for readers like you who appreciate and financially support our work.\u00a0<\/p>\n \t\t\t
\t\t\t
\t\t\tAlready a member? Sign in to stop seeing this<\/a><\/p>\n
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t You clearly find our careful reporting valuable, in a time when facts are often distorted and news coverage often lacks context.<\/p>\n Your support is essential to continue our work. We want to continue delivering the professional journalism you value, even as the demands on our newsroom have grown dramatically since October 7.<\/p>\n So today, please consider joining our reader support group, The Times of Israel Community. For as little as $6 a month you’ll become our partners while enjoying The Times of Israel AD-FREE, as well as accessing\u00a0exclusive content\u00a0available only to Times of Israel Community members.<\/p>\n Thank you, \t\t\t
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AFP__20260211__96YG7GD__v2__HighRes__IranPoliticsAnniversary-e1770805805521-640x400.jpg\")
<\/a>
\n\t\tPeople walk across a large banner on the street depicting the US and Israeli flags defaced with footprints during a rally marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution, in Tehran on February 11, 2026 (AFP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AFP__20260211__96YG7GU__v3__HighRes__TopshotIranPoliticsAnniversary-e1770803220684-640x400.jpg\")
<\/a>
\n\t\tWomen walk past a ballistic missile launch vehicle in Tehran on February 11, 2026, during a rally marking the 47th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic revolution (AFP)<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/AFP__20260206__96DK78A__v1__HighRes__OmanIranUsDiplomacy-e1771027890471-640x400.jpg\")
<\/a>
\n\t\tIn this handout photo released by the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs on February 6, 2026, US special envoy Steve Witkoff (C), Jared Kushner and Oman\u0092s Foreign Minister Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi pose for a photo during a meeting in Muscat. (Handout\/Omani Foreign Ministry\/AFP)<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tIs accurate Israel coverage important to you?\t\t\t<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tI’m with you and will give\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tI’m with you and will give\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tYou appreciate our journalism\t\t\t<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/il\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DH-new-headshot-circular.png\" "\\"\\"\/")
\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
David Horovitz, Founding Editor of The Times of Israel<\/p>\n
\n\t\t\t\tJoin Our Community\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n