The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indians-stranded-in-irans-chabahar-seek-govt-help-for-repatriation-397916">Iranian</a> government on Tuesday confirmed it has been holding talks with the United States on a prisoner swap deal.

"Negotiations are underway on the exchange of prisoners between Iran and America, and we will issue more information if Iranian prisoners are released and the country's interests are secured and the talks reach a conclusion," Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei said.

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Rabiei added that the government was ready to exchange all American political prisoners in exchange for all Iranian prisoners held in US jails.

The development comes as Iran engages with world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal in Vienna.

The US envoy to&nbsp;Iran, Robert Malley had said earlier that the Biden administration is not ready to accept a "partial deal" on the release of prisoners.

Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said foreign minister Zarif had put forward a plan on prisoner swap with the US government.

In June last year under the Trump administration, Iran had freed US Navy veteran Michael White as the US government had set free an Iranian scientist Majid Teheri.

In 2016, Iran had freed four Americans as the US government freed seven Iranians after the nuclear deal was clinched under the Obama administration.

In May, Iran had denied media reports suggesting a prisoner swap deal with the United States, however, foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh had said: "there are always plans and ideas to be pursued".

Iran and the US do not have official diplomatic relations since 1980.

(With inputs from Agencies)

The Iranian government on Tuesday confirmed it has been holding talks with the United States on a prisoner swap deal. "Negotiations are underway on the exchange of prisoners between Iran and America, and we will issue more information if Iranian prisoners are released and the country's interests are secured and the talks reach a conclusion," Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei said.

The Iranian government on Tuesday confirmed it has been holding talks with the United States on a prisoner swap deal. "Negotiations are underway on the exchange of prisoners between Iran and America, and we will issue more information if Iranian prisoners are released and the country's interests are secured and the talks reach a conclusion," Iran's government spokesman Ali Rabiei said. Watch: Rabiei added that the government was ready to exchange all American political prisoners in exchange for all Iranian prisoners held in US jails. The development comes as Iran engages with world powers to revive the 2015 nuclear deal in Vienna. The US envoy to Iran, Robert Malley had said earlier that the Biden administration is not ready to accept a "partial deal" on the release of prisoners. Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh said foreign minister Zarif had put forward a plan on prisoner swap with the US government. In June last year under the Trump administration, Iran had freed US Navy veteran Michael White as the US government had set free an Iranian scientist Majid Teheri. In 2016, Iran had freed four Americans as the US government freed seven Iranians after the nuclear deal was clinched under the Obama administration. In May, Iran had denied media reports suggesting a prisoner swap deal with the United States, however, foreign ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh had said: "there are always plans and ideas to be pursued". Iran and the US do not have official diplomatic relations since 1980. (With inputs from Agencies)

Negotiations underway on exchange of prisoners with US, confirms Iran

As Iran continues to battle with the US over the 2015 nuclear deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that it is "unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do to come back into compliance."

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The US secretary of state's statement comes as the UN nuclear watchdog had said last week that the Rouhani government hadn't answered questions on undeclared nuclear activity.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had said that there are at least three undeclared locations including a fourth site where Iran&nbsp;had allegedly carried out experiments with uranium between 2002 and 2003.

Iranian officials had entered into talks with world powers after the Biden administration signalled its intention to revive the 2015 nuclear deal which the former Trump administration had rejected.

The US has put down compliance with the nuclear deal as a precondition, while Iran has insisted that the US should lift all sanctions imposed by Trump to revive the nuclear deal.

"We're not even at the stage of returning to compliance for compliance," Blinken told the committee even as officials in Vienna continue to negotiate with Iran.&nbsp;

"We don't know if that's actually going to happen," Blinken added on the fate of Iran's compliance over the nuclear deal.

In a report earlier, the IAEA had said Iran had reportedly enriched uranium around 16 times above the limit laid down by the nuclear deal.

Britain, China, France, Germany and Russian officials along with the EU are currently negotiating in Vienna with Iranian officials ensuring indirect talks with the US.

(With inputs from Agencies)

As Iran continues to battle with the US over the 2015 nuclear deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that it is "unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do to come back into compliance.

As Iran continues to battle with the US over the 2015 nuclear deal, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken told the House Foreign Affairs Committee that it is "unclear whether Iran is willing and prepared to do what it needs to do to come back into compliance." Watch: The US secretary of state's statement comes as the UN nuclear watchdog had said last week that the Rouhani government hadn't answered questions on undeclared nuclear activity. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had said that there are at least three undeclared locations including a fourth site where Iran had allegedly carried out experiments with uranium between 2002 and 2003. Iranian officials had entered into talks with world powers after the Biden administration signalled its intention to revive the 2015 nuclear deal which the former Trump administration had rejected. The US has put down compliance with the nuclear deal as a precondition, while Iran has insisted that the US should lift all sanctions imposed by Trump to revive the nuclear deal. "We're not even at the stage of returning to compliance for compliance," Blinken told the committee even as officials in Vienna continue to negotiate with Iran. "We don't know if that's actually going to happen," Blinken added on the fate of Iran's compliance over the nuclear deal. In a report earlier, the IAEA had said Iran had reportedly enriched uranium around 16 times above the limit laid down by the nuclear deal. Britain, China, France, Germany and Russian officials along with the EU are currently negotiating in Vienna with Iranian officials ensuring indirect talks with the US. (With inputs from Agencies)

'Unclear' about Iran's nuclear compliance, Blinken to lawmakers

As Iran and the US tussle over the revival of the 2015 <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-threatens-to-boost-uranium-enrichment-to-60-365571">nuclear dea</a>l, the Biden administration said that its "patience is not unlimited".

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Tehran has not formally responded to the US offer last week for talks with Iran in a joint meeting with the countries that negotiated the deal.

"Our patience is not unlimited, but we do believe, and the president has been clear on this ever since he was running for high office that the United States and he felt that the most effective way to ensure Iran could never acquire a nuclear weapon was through diplomacy that is what we are engaged in now," Ned Price, State Department spokesman, said.&nbsp;

The White House said it was still awaiting a response from <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/we-will-hold-iran-responsible-says-us-after-rockets-target-us-embassy-in-iraqs-green-zone-365542">Iran</a> officials over the nuclear talks offer. Iran however has stated that the US needs to first lift the sanctions imposed under former president Trump's administration&nbsp;for the talks to take place.

"We have put that offer on the table that under the auspices of the P5+1, we would be willing to engage in that diplomacy, in those consultations directly with Iran," Price added.

Two days ago, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said that Iran might enrich uranium up to 60 per cent purity if the country needed it while asserting that Iran would never yield to American pressure over its nuclear programme.

As Iran and the US tussle over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, the Biden administration said that its "patience is not unlimited". Watch: Tehran has not formally responded to the US offer last week for talks with Iran in a joint meeting with the countries that negotiated the deal.

As Iran and the US tussle over the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, the Biden administration said that its "patience is not unlimited". Watch: Tehran has not formally responded to the US offer last week for talks with Iran in a joint meeting with the countries that negotiated the deal. "Our patience is not unlimited, but we do believe, and the president has been clear on this ever since he was running for high office that the United States and he felt that the most effective way to ensure Iran could never acquire a nuclear weapon was through diplomacy that is what we are engaged in now," Ned Price, State Department spokesman, said. The White House said it was still awaiting a response from Iran officials over the nuclear talks offer. Iran however has stated that the US needs to first lift the sanctions imposed under former president Trump's administration for the talks to take place. "We have put that offer on the table that under the auspices of the P5+1, we would be willing to engage in that diplomacy, in those consultations directly with Iran," Price added. Two days ago, Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei had said that Iran might enrich uranium up to 60 per cent purity if the country needed it while asserting that Iran would never yield to American pressure over its nuclear programme.

Our patience is not unlimited, US on nuclear deal with Iran

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-strikes-temporary-solution-with-iaea-over-nuclear-inspection-365285">Iran</a> might enrich uranium up to 60 per cent purity if the country needed it adding that the country will never yield to US pressure over its nuclear programme.

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Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers which it has been breaching since the United States withdrew in 2018 caps the purity to which Tehran can refine uranium at 3.67 per cent. It is well under the 20 per cent achieved before the agreement and far below the 90 per cent needed for a nuclear weapon.

Upping the ante with President Joe <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/irans-zarif-says-ending-iaea-snap-inspections-doesnt-breach-2015-nuclear-deal-365188">Biden</a>, Khamenei said that Iran's uranium enrichment level will not be limited to 20 per cent and it will increase it to whatever level the country needs.&nbsp;

"Iran's uranium enrichment level will not be limited to 20 per cent, we will increase it to whatever level the country needs, for example, for a nuclear propulsion or other works we may increase enrichment up to 60 per cent, if there is a need for it we will act on it," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said.

The Biden administration reacted to the threats saying that the comments were hypothetical and posturing. US State Department spokesman reiterated the willingness of the US to talk with Iran about returning to the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-reiterates-stance-says-us-must-first-lift-sanctions-before-talks-to-revive-2015-deal-365245">2015 nuclear deal</a>.

Iran which has resumed enriching to 20 per cent in a bid to heap pressure on the United States has been at loggerheads with Washington over which side should take the initial step to revive the accord.

Meanwhile, secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that Washington intended to bolster and extend the 2015 pact which aimed to limit Iran's enrichment potential - a possible pathway to atomic bombs - in exchange for lifting most of the sanctions.

"The United States remains committed to ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. Diplomacy is the best path to achieve that goal," Bilken said.

"Working with allies and partners, we will also seek to lengthen and strengthen the JCPOA and address other areas of concern, including Iran's destabilising regional behaviour and ballistic missile development and proliferation. Iran must comply with its safeguards agreements with the IAEA and its other international obligations," Blinken asserted.

The comments come after the UN watchdog IAEA on Sunday reached a deal with Iran that would allow it to continue monitoring the country's nuclear activities for a period of up to three months.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran might enrich uranium up to 60 per cent purity if the country needed it adding that the country will never yield to US pressure over its nuclear programme.

Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei has said that Iran might enrich uranium up to 60 per cent purity if the country needed it adding that the country will never yield to US pressure over its nuclear programme. Watch: Iran's 2015 nuclear deal with six powers which it has been breaching since the United States withdrew in 2018 caps the purity to which Tehran can refine uranium at 3.67 per cent. It is well under the 20 per cent achieved before the agreement and far below the 90 per cent needed for a nuclear weapon. Upping the ante with President Joe Biden, Khamenei said that Iran's uranium enrichment level will not be limited to 20 per cent and it will increase it to whatever level the country needs. "Iran's uranium enrichment level will not be limited to 20 per cent, we will increase it to whatever level the country needs, for example, for a nuclear propulsion or other works we may increase enrichment up to 60 per cent, if there is a need for it we will act on it," Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said. The Biden administration reacted to the threats saying that the comments were hypothetical and posturing. US State Department spokesman reiterated the willingness of the US to talk with Iran about returning to the 2015 nuclear deal. Iran which has resumed enriching to 20 per cent in a bid to heap pressure on the United States has been at loggerheads with Washington over which side should take the initial step to revive the accord. Meanwhile, secretary of state Antony Blinken has said that Washington intended to bolster and extend the 2015 pact which aimed to limit Iran's enrichment potential - a possible pathway to atomic bombs - in exchange for lifting most of the sanctions. "The United States remains committed to ensuring that Iran never acquires a nuclear weapon. Diplomacy is the best path to achieve that goal," Bilken said. "Working with allies and partners, we will also seek to lengthen and strengthen the JCPOA and address other areas of concern, including Iran's destabilising regional behaviour and ballistic missile development and proliferation. Iran must comply with its safeguards agreements with the IAEA and its other international obligations," Blinken asserted. The comments come after the UN watchdog IAEA on Sunday reached a deal with Iran that would allow it to continue monitoring the country's nuclear activities for a period of up to three months.

Iran threatens to boost uranium enrichment to 60%