Iran is ready to engage in talks on its nuclear program with the United States, but only if Washington takes meaningful steps to rebuild trust, a senior Iranian diplomat said Thursday, ahead of a key meeting with European officials.

A fragile truce between Iran and Israel holds but tensions have grown following the 12-day conflict last month during which the U.S. also bombed Iran's nuclear facilities, with diplomacy stalled and renewed threats of war.

Iran is ready to resume nuclear talks with the United States as long as some principles are respected, deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on Thursday, a day before a meeting with European powers in Istanbul.