Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister: US giving conflicting signals
The Interview
BBC
4.3 • 537 Ratings
🗓️ 18 February 2026
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
“They have said in private conversation through Oman that they're interested to have this matter being resolved through peaceful means. But at the same time, one can question why the American forces are building up around Iran, why they are using threats, why they resorting to intimidation.”
Lyse Doucet speaks to Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran’s deputy foreign minister, in an interview recorded before the second round of talks with the US. The talks are aimed at curbing Iran’s nuclear programme in return for the lifting of sanctions that have crippled the country’s economy.
The latest round of talks follow US-led military strikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure last summer, amid growing concerns that Tehran was pursuing nuclear weapons.
US President Trump has threatened further strikes if a deal cannot be reached, with the US building up its military presence in the region. As concerns grow over the slow pace of current negotiations, the US says Iran is to blame.
The talks also come against a backdrop of ongoing nationwide protests against the Islamic regime in Tehran. According to human rights groups, thousands have been killed by the government in an attempt to quell the uprising. The Interview brings you conversations with people shaping our world, from all over the world. The best interviews from the BBC, including episodes with Iranian author Azar Nafisi, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, and Venezuelan opposition leader Henrique Capriles. You can listen on the BBC World Service on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 0800 GMT. Or you can listen to The Interview as a podcast, out three times a week on BBC Sounds or wherever you get your podcasts.
Presenter: Lyse Doucet Producer: Charlotte Scarr Editor: Damon Rose
Get in touch with us on email TheInterview@bbc.co.uk and use the hashtag #TheInterviewBBC on social media.
(Image: Majid Takht-Ravanchi Credit: SAFIN HAMID/AFP via Getty Images)
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | BBC Sounds, Music, Radio, podcasts. |
| 0:05.4 | Hello, I'm Lee Doucette, the BBC's Chief International correspondent, and this is the interview from the BBC World Service, the best conversations coming out of the BBC, people shaping our world from all over the world. |
| 0:22.6 | If you're not a little bit afraid, then you're not paying attention. |
| 0:27.4 | We have never seen a people so united. Do not make that boat crossing. Do not make that journey. |
| 0:33.6 | Being born in America, feeling American, having people treat me like I'm not. |
| 0:37.7 | We're more popular than populism. |
| 0:41.5 | For this interview, I met Iran's deputy foreign minister, Majitak Ravanchi in Tehran, |
| 0:47.5 | just as he and the rest of Iran's delegation were preparing to leave for Geneva |
| 0:51.9 | for Tuesday's indirect talks with the US. Both sides say |
| 0:56.2 | they're making progress. Pressure has been mounting on Tehran to do a new nuclear deal in exchange |
| 1:02.6 | for the US lifting at least some of the many sanctions now strangling Iran's economy. We've seen here |
| 1:10.1 | how Iranians are struggling with soaring inflation |
| 1:13.3 | and the plummeting value of their currency against the dollar. It's what sparked last month's |
| 1:19.2 | wave of protests which were swiftly put down with lethal force. Human rights groups say thousands |
| 1:25.6 | were killed and the pain and anger here is still raw. |
| 1:31.0 | Military pressure has been mounting too. President Trump is threatening to attack if diplomacy |
| 1:36.6 | doesn't succeed. A U.S. military buildup in the region continues apace. Iran is also threatening |
| 1:43.1 | to hit hard if it comes under fire. It's a time of |
| 1:46.7 | huge uncertainty in Iran. Will there be a nuclear deal or another deadly war? |
| 1:53.0 | We are hearing mixed signals. Even there has been a talk about regime change. We want diplomacy |
| 1:58.7 | to be successful. But at the same time, we have to be very cautious. |
| 2:04.6 | We have to take every precautionary measures that we need to have in order to protect ourselves. |
... |
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