The Islamic Republic of Iran is willing to reduce its uranium enrichment significantly to prevent the United Kingdom from reimplementing UN sanctions on the country, Iranian officials claimed, The Telegraph reported Sunday.
The officials added that, to avoid any possible future military strikes by the US or Israel akin to what it endured in June, Tehran is "willing to soften its hardline stance."
The Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary, Ali Larijani, is the leading official to lower the country's uranium enrichment to 20% purity, down from 60%, the report added.
“Larijani is trying to convince the system to reduce the level of enrichment to avoid another war," a senior Iranian official told The Telegraph, adding that his initiative in lowering it to 20% was met with opposition from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), but that they're willing to re-engage with Western powers.
Previous talks of uranium enrichment
In December of last year, International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi told Reuters that Iran had been "dramatically" increasing the amount of uranium enriched to up to 60% purity, close to the roughly 90% of weapons-grade that it is able to produce.
A Financial Times report from earlier this month stated that the Islamic Republic will also face sanctions by the E3 - France, UK, and Germany - should they fail to resume nuclear talks with the international community.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his French, British, and German counterparts agreed on Friday to resume talks, with the three European countries saying they could re-activate United Nations sanctions on Iran under a "snapback" mechanism if Tehran does not return to negotiations on a deal to curb its disputed uranium enrichment program.
Shortly before The Telegraph report, a former IDF senior officer in Military Intelligence, Col. (res.) Dr. Jacques Neriah warned of an impending “second round” against the Islamic Republic.
Reuters and 103FM contributed to this report.