Iran will limit nuclear programme if Trump eases sanctions
Majid Takht-Ravanchi, the deputy foreign minister, said the Islamic Republic would slow down its nuclear programme in exchange for economic relief from Donald Trump.
But he ruled out completely halting enrichment and did not specify how much of a reduction Iran would make.
Mr Takht-Ravanchi said: 'Iran can be flexible on the capacities and limits of enrichment, but cannot agree to stop enrichment under any circumstance because it's essential, and we need to rely on ourselves, not on empty promises.'
Complete cessation of uranium enrichment was 'out of the question', the official said.
Despite escalating tensions, the deputy foreign minister said diplomatic channels with the US remained open through intermediaries.
He said Iran was 'ready for dialogue with the United States', but warned that new American threats 'would be met with firm defence'.
Iran enriches uranium up to 60 per cent purity, close to the roughly 90 per cent needed for nuclear weapons.
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