Iran ready to make nuclear deal with U.S. if sanctions can be lifted

Iran is prepared to strike a nuclear deal with the U.S. if Washington is willing to discuss lifting sanctions, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister said in an interview with the BBC. 

According to Takht-Ravanchi, Iran is ready to discuss aspects related to their nuclear program provided that the alleviation of U.S. sanctions is also "on the table."

"The ball is in America's court," Takht-Ravanchi said. "They have to prove that they want to have a deal with us."

"One cannot accept the notion that Iran has to do certain things without the other side committing itself to do their share," he added. 

Asked about the military build-up in the Middle East and whether a potential conflict would be "existential" for Iran, Takht-Ravanchi said, "it would be traumatic," and "bad for everybody."

U.S. and Iran are scheduled to have a new round of negotiations in Geneva next week, the Swiss Foreign Ministry said on Saturday. 

An official in Iran reasserted on Friday that the country's missile power is "among its red lines and is not subject to negotiation," according to Ali Shamkhani, a senior political adviser to Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. 

However, Shamkhani also said talks between Tehran and Washington could advance and safeguard mutual interests if they were rooted in realism and avoided excessive demands.

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(With input from Xinhua)