Takht Ravanchi told MSNBC that Iran was in “defensive mode” and rejected US accusations about failed nuclear negotiations, while also addressing claims about the country’s enriched uranium stockpile and the process to select a new leader.

“We are defending ourselves,” Takht Ravanchi said.

“A war has been imposed on us and we have every right to defend ourselves,” he added, calling the US-Israeli aggression “the war of choice for the US government and the Israeli regime.”

He condemned the United States and Israelis regime for carrying out “indiscriminate attacks against civilian targets,” including schoolchildren, paramedics and hospitals, and said Iranian authorities were working “to preserve our right and to protect our people.”

“170 school girls have been martyred as a result of an indiscriminate attack against our population by Israel and America,” he said.

Asked whether Iran was communicating with the United States directly or through intermediaries, Takht Ravanchi said no messages had been exchanged since the war was imposed on Iran.

“No, we haven't heard anything and we have not conveyed any message to Americans because we are now defending ourselves,” he said.

Meanwhile, the White House has claimed diplomatic talks before the conflict were unlikely to succeed, wrongfully accusing Iran of acting in bad faith during negotiations over its nuclear program, despite bringing a massive war party to Iranian doorsteps for over a month.

In a related development, US envoy Steve Witkoff said Iranian negotiators acknowledged possessing about 460 kilograms of uranium enriched to 60%, which he claimed could potentially be used to produce multiple nuclear weapons.

Takht-Ravanchi said Iran had merely cited figures reported by international bodies and European experts.

“It is no secret,” he said, referring to data published by the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Separately, he said negotiations in Geneva shortly before the imposed war had been constructive and that both sides had agreed to continue technical discussions.

“All sides including the Americans and Iran and the mediator agreed that we had a good meeting,” he said.

He added that plans were in place to send technical teams to Vienna before the war began.

Meanwhile, Takht Ravanchi defended Iran’s warning that US military bases in the region could become targets if Washington attacked Iran.

He said Tehran had informed neighboring countries that American military assets in the region could be considered “legitimate targets based on international law” in the event of military action.

However, he vehemently denied Iran had targeted regional states intentionally and firmly rejected suggestions that Iranian missiles were aimed at Turkey.

“Not at all,” he said, adding Iran sought “peace and stability” with its neighbors.

Takht Ravanchi said a temporary leadership body had been established following the martyrdom of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei by the US-Israeli airstrikes and would oversee the country until a successor is selected.

“Not yet,” he said when asked whether a new leader had been chosen.

“A new body has been established comprised of three people, so they will be in charge until the new leader is elected,” he said.

He said the process would follow Iran’s constitutional procedures and be carried out by officials elected by the public.

“It is a democratic process in which those who are going to elect the leader have already been given the mandate by the people,” he said.

Meanwhile, Takht Ravanchi defended the government’s restrictions on communications during the war, saying protecting lives was the priority.

“Communication is important,” he said, adding: “But what is more important, is to save lives at the time when enemy is conducting an act of aggression.”