Iran: No negotiations with US while threats, sanctions persist
Iranian Minister of Foreign Affairs Abbas Araghchi says Tehran will not engage in direct nuclear negotiations with the United States as long as Washington persists with unilateral sanctions and threats.
“We will not enter any direct negotiations with the US so long as they continue their maximum pressure policy and their threats,” he told AFP on Friday on the sidelines of his visit to Jeddah.
Araghchi, who traveled to the Saudi city on Friday to participate in an Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) meeting, reaffirmed Iran’s peaceful approach toward its nuclear program and advised US policymakers to observe the conditions of a “fair and just negotiation” instead of abusing the language of pressure and threat.
He went on to refer to Iran’s ongoing negotiations with other parties to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), including Russia, China, and three European countries.
The interview came on the same day as Trump claimed to have sent a letter to Leader of Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei. The claim, however, was rejected by the Iranian mission to the UN.
Speaking to Fox News, Trump said he hoped for achieving a deal with Tehran before making military threats against the country.
"I think they want to get that letter. The other alternative is we have to do something, because you can't let another nuclear weapon," he said despite Tehran's repeated stance that it does not seek to develop nukes.
Addressing repeated Israeli and American military threats against Iranian nuclear facilities, Araghchi noted that the program cannot be destroyed militarily.
“Iran’s nuclear program cannot be destroyed through military operations… this is a technology that we have achieved, and the technology is in the brains and cannot be bombed,” he said.
“Iran's nuclear facilities are scattered in many different parts of the country and are properly protected, and we are sure that they cannot be destroyed," he added.
Furthermore, the top envoy touched on Iran’s ability to respond to military aggression “in a completely proportionate and balanced manner.”
“The Israelis themselves know, and others in the region know, that any action taken against Iran will be followed by a similar action against Israel,” Araghchi said.
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