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Iran’s top security official, Ali Larijani, stated that Tehran would “respond positively” to talks with the United States if Washington rules out further military intervention. Speaking to Lebanon’s Al-Mayadeen network late on Thursday, Larijani outlined conditions for engagement as European powers pressed Tehran to resume nuclear talks before August’s end or face sanctions.
Why It Matters
Larijani’s remarks tie the prospects of diplomacy to a recent 12-day conflict where Israeli and U.S. strikes severely damaged Iran’s military and nuclear infrastructure. This signals a potential shift in Tehran’s strategic thinking, as renewed hostilities or sanctions could destabilize energy markets, heighten regional tensions, and complicate broader international security efforts.
The outcome carries global stakes, with the E3 (France, Germany, and the U.K.) setting a late-August deadline for renewed nuclear talks. Failure to do so would trigger the return of full U.N. sanctions under the “snapback” mechanism.
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What to Know
Larijani is the newly appointed secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council. His remarks signal Tehran’s willingness to negotiate with the U.S. if Washington accepts that military action cannot achieve peace. He stated, “Negotiations are only useful when both sides accept and understand they cannot achieve their goals through war,” in a careful recalibration of strategy after costly military confrontations this summer.
Path to Diplomacy
Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Iran’s political establishment now view diplomacy as the only path to avoid further escalation and mitigate strategic and economic costs. Unnamed Iranian sources told Reuters that renewed talks with Washington are vital for the country’s survival.
Costs of Conflict
Iran and the U.S. were engaged in nuclear talks aimed at addressing concerns over Tehran’s nuclear program. The negotiations were disrupted when, on June 13, Israel launched strikes targeting senior Iranian military leaders, nuclear scientists, and politicians, damaging key facilities. Nine days into the fighting, the U.S. bombed three Iranian nuclear sites, which President Donald Trump said “obliterated” Iran’s nuclear program.
What People Are Saying
Iran’s Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani: “If the United States realizes it cannot defeat the Islamic Republic through war and then seeks negotiations, we will respond positively. But if they negotiate to prepare for the next war, it will be of no benefit to us.”
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot: “Iran must not be allowed to acquire nuclear weapons under any circumstances.”
What Happens Next
Facing mounting military and diplomatic pressures, Iran’s leadership is grappling with internal divisions over potential negotiations. Moderates favor easing tensions with Western and regional powers, while hard-liners insist any agreement include concrete guarantees of mutual restraint.
At the same time, failure to meet the E3’s late-August deadline could trigger the reinstatement of U.N. sanctions under the snapback clause in the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—the 2015 Iran deal—raising the risk of a renewed cycle of confrontation.
