US and Iran showing flexibility on nuclear deal, says top Turkish diplomat

Turkey’s top diplomat said both the US and Iran appeared ready to compromise to secure a nuclear deal, but warned that broadening talks to cover Tehran’s ballistic missile programme would risk “nothing but another war”.

Hakan Fidan, who has played an integral role in mediation efforts to avert a conflict, told the FT that Washington had signalled a willingness to be flexible on a key demand that Iran end all uranium enrichment. That condition has long been a critical barrier to a deal, as Iran insists it has a right to enrich as a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty.

The Turkish foreign minister also said he believed Tehran “genuinely wants to reach a real agreement” and would accept restrictions on enrichment levels and a strict inspections regime, like it did in the 2015 agreement with the US and other world powers.

“It is positive that the Americans appear willing to tolerate Iranian enrichment within clearly set boundaries,” said Fidan, who is in constant contact with US, Iranian and regional officials. “The Iranians now recognise that they need to reach a deal with the Americans, and the Americans understand that the Iranians have certain limits. It’s pointless to try to force them.”

He cautioned that if the US “insists on addressing all the issues simultaneously” — a reference to Iran’s ballistic missile arsenal and support for regional militant groups — “I’m afraid even the nuclear file will not move forward . . . the result could be another war in the region”.