Iran signals cautious readiness for talks despite Trump's tough talk

Tehran: Iran, which by past record of US President Trump may face a more hostile US,  has indicatsed that the Iranian leadership could be open to talks with the US President. 

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghch said on Wednesday that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons as of now. The nuclear bomb capability is the main bone of contention between the two countries,  especially because the Trump administration had walked out of the previous nuclear deal with Iran during his regime, news agencies reported on Wednesday.   The 2015 nuclear deal signed by parties including China, France, Germany, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States, the European Union (EU), with Iran was named Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to ensure Iran did not further expand its nuclear capability in return for relief in sanctions.

"If the main concern is that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons, then that is achievable," Araghchi said on the sidelines of a Cabinet meeting in Tehran.

Trump on the other hand showed his will to continue with the 'maximum pressure' doctrine when it comes to dealing with Iran.  He issued a presidential memorandum on Tuesday that ordered his administration to place "maximum pressure" on Iran, with measures including new sanctions and tougher enforcement of existing ones.

But he also suggested a willingness to work out a deal.

"We don't want to be tough on Iran. We don't want to be tough on anybody," Trump said. "But they just can't have a nuclear bomb."

Responding to those comments, Araghchi said that Trump's "maximum pressure" policy had not worked in his first term and that a new attempt was also "doomed to failure."

But while Araghchi hinted at the possibility of talks with Washington, Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref was more cautious on Wednesday.

Aref said a meeting between Trump and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian was not at all on the agenda.

Trump re-entered the White House as the dispute over Iran's nuclear programme has heated up.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has said that Iran plans to increase the number of its centrifuges and expand the infrastructure for uranium enrichment. However, the government in Tehran states that it does not seek nuclear weapons.

Iran is currently enriching uranium to a purity level of 60%, but according to experts, a level of over 90% is required for nuclear weapons.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who enjoys a warm relationship with Trump, has repeatedly threatened to bomb Iranian nuclear facilities.