Senior diplomat: US, Israel are aware of Iran's real power

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi says the United States and the Israeli regime will have to pay a heavy price if make any mistake against Iran.

“The threats from the US and the Zionist regime are nothing new, but they are aware of Iran's real power,” Takht Ravanchi said in an interview with Iraq's al-Ahed news website.

He reaffirmed Iran’s commitment to the general framework set out by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei for negotiations with the US.

The senior Iranian diplomat emphasized that Tehran pursues a “very clear” policy and strategy that ban development of nuclear weapons, adding that the Leader has forbidden the production of such arms.

Takht Ravanchi, however, said talks are underway between Iran and the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal – formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).

"Both sides are willing to advance these negotiations, and there is a framework for these talks that we act based on it to reach an agreement," he explained.

Iran, confident of peaceful nature of its nuclear program, never left negotiation table: FM

Iran asserts that it has never acted as the party to leave the negotiation table due to its confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear energy program.

Iran and the European troika (E3) – Britain, Germany and France -- have been conducting on-again, off-again talks since 2021, three years after the United States, under Donald Trump, illegally and unilaterally left the JCPOA and returned Washington’s unlawful sanctions against Tehran.

The trio then failed to live up to their promise of bringing Washington back to the deal.

Reacting to the counter-party’s non-commitment to its obligations, Tehran initiated a set of retaliatory nuclear steps, including activating more advanced centrifuges.

Iran has been stepping up the measures in response to the other parties’ continued refusal to uphold their obligations under the nuclear deal.

Iran hopes for establishment of security in Syria

Takht Ravanchi said Iran carefully monitors the development in Syria and hopes that security will be established in the country,

He added that no country should interfere in Syria’s internal affairs.

He dismissed any difference of ideas inside Iran when it comes to the developments in Syria, emphasizing, “Whenever a new Syrian government is formed, we will respect the Syrian people’s decision and engage with it accordingly."

On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister’s special envoy for Syria Mohammad Reza Raouf Sheibani confirmed that Tehran is indirectly in contact with the ruling Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) administration in Syria, more than two months after the militant group captured Damascus.

Takht Ravanchi also expressed Iran’s willingness to improve relations with Iraq in all fields, saying, “The Iranian government attaches great significance to ties with the neighboring countries and we enjoy commonalities with these states.”

The Iranian deputy foreign minister further stressed the importance of making use of great opportunities in the region to elevate relations between Iran and Saudi Arabia “to the best state."

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