TEHRAN – Iran’s Foreign Ministry says the US must first prove its true commitment to diplomacy if Washington seeks further negotiations with Tehran on the country’s nuclear program.
In an interview with the UK-based SkyNews TV News Channel, Esmaillebagaei, a spokesman for the ministry, aired Thursday, stressed that the White House must first prove its true commitment to a diplomatic path before the potential reopening of nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, reporters reported.
“They (Americans) must truly demonstrate their compliance with diplomacy. Diplomacy should not be transformed into a tool for deceptions against their opponents or for psychological warfare,” he said.
Asked if Tehran and Washington would resume consultations, Bagaei said, “I know there was indirect contact. The Foreign Minister (Abbas Araguchi) is in discussions with Oman, Qatar and other countries, and as I said, diplomacy will never cease.”
Since April, Tehran and Washington have carried out a recurring shift in the US stance in five rounds of indirect talks mediated by Oman in Muscat and Rome over Iran’s nuclear program.
However, talks halted after Israel launched a military attack on June 13th, lasting for 12 days. Meanwhile, Iranian troops responded to the attacks with ballistic missiles fired in Tel Aviv and Haifa, as well as other parts of the occupying regime.
Over a week after the war, the United States ultimately chose to enter directly and formally directly, as the Israeli regime was facing a serious setback in the war.
Earlier on June 22, the United States launched an illegal strike against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities in Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan in a clear violation of international law and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
“First of all, we have to understand what happened. What happened was a clear act of attack by the United States on Israel and the integrity of our territory and national sovereignty,” Bagaei said.
“For 12 days, an unprovoked attack was launched against the Iranian state, in which many Iranians lost their lives in this brutal act of war imposed on our country,” he added.
The American attack also made the US intent even more suspicious, dismissing Iranian officials’ excessive reliance on talks and asking why Washington relies on military attacks on the country if it was granted diplomacy.
“Our nuclear facilities were severely damaged, but our nuclear sites were under the most rigorous testing by the International Atomic Energy Agency,” Baghhai said, warning against further adventurous attacks by the Zionist regime.
“We guarantee that our army is prepared for such an adventure,” Baghey emphasized.
He said that during the 12-day war, Iran was strongly responding to Israeli and the US aggression, and emphasized that the Islamic Republic would respond to any act of aggression.
“We have proven our determination to fully protect our nation and our dignity.”