A top Iranian adviser has indicated that Tehran may be willing to accept significant limitations on its nuclear programme in return for the lifting of international sanctions, according to comments made in a US media interview.
Ali Shamkhani, a senior aide to Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, told NBC News that the Islamic Republic could potentially agree never to pursue nuclear weapons, relinquish its stockpiles of highly enriched uranium, and allow international inspectors greater access to its nuclear facilities—if economic sanctions were lifted in full.
When asked whether Iran would be prepared to sign such an agreement with the administration of US President Donald Trump if sanctions were lifted immediately, Shamkhani replied, “yes”.
His remarks come as Iran and the United States recently concluded their fourth round of indirect talks, the highest level of contact between the two countries since Washington withdrew from the 2015 nuclear agreement in 2018.
Under the original accord, Iran was limited to enriching uranium to a maximum of 3.67 percent. It is now enriching to 60 percent purity—still short of the 90 percent required for weapons-grade material but far exceeding the limits agreed under the deal. Tehran began scaling back its commitments to the agreement a year after the US withdrawal.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently pointed out that Iran is the only non-nuclear-armed country enriching uranium to such a high level. Western powers have long accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons, while Iran maintains its programme is solely for peaceful purposes.
Despite the ongoing diplomatic engagement, the US has continued to ramp up pressure on Iran through targeted sanctions, including fresh measures announced on Monday focusing on Iran’s nuclear activities and oil sector.
During the interview, Shamkhani criticised Trump’s aggressive rhetoric towards Iran, stating: “He talks about the olive branch, which we have not seen. It’s all barbed wire.”
