Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi

Iran`s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says Tehran is open to holding talks on its nuclear program but refuses to negotiate over its missile capabilities.

"We are ready to negotiate to address concerns regarding Iran`s nuclear program and are confident in the peaceful nature of our nuclear program," Araghchi said in an interview with the Qatari news network Al-Jazeera published on Saturday.

"We will never negotiate our missile program, and no rational actor would accept being disarmed," he added.

Araghchi reiterated that Iran will not compromise on its uranium enrichment program either. "It is not possible to stop uranium enrichment, and what could not be achieved by war cannot be achieved through politics."

The top Iranian diplomat said it was still possible to reach a "fair" agreement on the country`s nuclear program, but "Washington has set forth unacceptable conditions."

He emphasized that Iran has no desire for direct talks with Washington, but can reach an agreement through indirect negotiations.

Araghchi once again rejected the "unlawful" move by the European parties to the 2015 deal - Britain, France, and Germany- to trigger a "snapback" mechanism to restore UN sanctions, saying there is no international consensus on imposing sanctions against Tehran.

Iran had held five rounds of talks on a replacement for the 2015 nuclear deal prior to the US-Israeli airstrikes on the country and its nuclear facilities in mid-June.

The United States and its European allies have repeatedly called for any future agreement to address not only Iran`s nuclear activities but also its ballistic missile program.

Tehran has consistently rejected that demand, insisting its military capabilities are non-negotiable.

On August 28, the European trio invoked the "snapback" mechanism, further complicating diplomacy to resolve tensions.

Iran ready for any Israeli act of hostility

Elsewhere in his remarks, Araghchi said Tehran is prepared for all possibilities and expects any act of hostility from Israel.

"We have the highest level of preparedness at all levels, and Israel will suffer another defeat in any possible future war," he added.

He noted that during the war in June, Iran succeeded in testing its missiles in "real combat", warning that any new Israeli attack would have "bad consequences."

The Iranian minister said the Israeli regime targeted the country`s oil facilities to expand war across the region, but "we had managed the war with Israel well and prevented it from spreading to the wider region."

He added that Israel could not have attacked Iran without the US green light, stressing that Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a war criminal who has proven that Israel is the true enemy of the region.

Pointing to the US attack on three Iranian nuclear sites, Araghchi said, "Nuclear materials still remained under the rubble ... and were not transferred elsewhere."

"We suffered damage to our nuclear facilities and equipment, but the nuclear technology still exists," the foreign minister pointed out.

On June 13, Israel launched an unprovoked war against Iran, assassinating many high-ranking military commanders, nuclear scientists, and ordinary civilians.

More than a week later, the United States also entered the war by bombing three Iranian nuclear sites in a grave violation of the United Nations Charter, international law, and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

On June 24, Iran ultimately succeeded in halting the war through its retaliatory operations against the Israeli regime.