Palace of Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, the European headquarters of the United Nations | Image by Diego Grandi/Shutterstock

Iran signaled it is prepared to consider compromises in renewed nuclear negotiations with the United States if Washington is willing to address sanctions relief, a senior Iranian official told the BBC.

In an interview in Tehran, Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, said the “ball was in America’s court to prove that they want to do a deal,” adding: “If they are sincere, I’m sure we will be on the road to an agreement.”

Takht-Ravanchi said Tehran is “ready to discuss this and other issues related to our programme if they are ready to talk about sanctions,” but did not clarify whether that would require lifting all or only some sanctions.

The remarks come ahead of a second round of indirect talks between U.S. and Iranian officials set to take place in Geneva on Tuesday. The two sides previously held indirect discussions in Oman earlier this month, which Takht-Ravanchi described as “more or less in a positive direction but it is too early to judge.”

President Donald Trump has said he prefers to reach a diplomatic agreement but has warned that military action remains possible if a deal to curb Iran’s nuclear program cannot be reached. On Saturday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said President Donald Trump preferred a deal but it was “very hard to do” one with Iran.

Iran has continued enriching uranium to 60% purity — a level near weapons-grade — which Western officials have said raises concern about potential weapons development. Tehran has long maintained its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.

Takht-Ravanchi pointed to Iran’s offer to dilute its stockpile of 60%-enriched uranium as evidence of willingness to compromise. When asked whether Iran would ship more than 400 kilograms of highly enriched uranium abroad, as it did under the 2015 nuclear agreement, he said it was “too early to say what will happen in the course of negotiations.”

Russia previously accepted Iranian uranium under the 2015 deal, which President Donald Trump withdrew from during his first term.

Iran has insisted that negotiations focus strictly on the nuclear issue. “Our understanding is that they have come to the conclusion that if you want to have a deal you have to focus on the nuclear issue,” Takht-Ravanchi said.

It remains unclear whether the renewed Geneva talks will produce a framework for a broader agreement or deepen tensions between Washington and Tehran.