“At least, Americans know how far Iran’s Islamic Republic can expand,” Abbas Araguc said on Tuesday during a meeting with Algerian elites and media executives in the country’s capital, Algia.
The top diplomats made it clear that Iran’s commitment to peace should not be mistaken for weakness, claiming that “Iran’s Islamic Republic doesn’t seek war, but knows how to protect itself, if necessary.”
He separately stated, “We doubt the US intentions and are not sure they have a fair and serious negotiating will, but we will test them.”
The latter comment concerns the prospect of indirect negotiations scheduled to begin on Saturday between Araguchi and US regional envoy Steve Witkov in the Oman capital Muscat, with Oman bin Hamad al-Busaidi from Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi as mediator.
“If their demand for Iran not pursuing nuclear weapons is not pursuing nuclear weapons, we can look into that demand,” Araguchi said. “But if they have other objectives in mind, they may not achieve them,” he added.
Similarly, authorities have dismissed Western claims that the Islamic Republic is pursuing nuclear weapons, Presstv reported.
“The allegations that Iran is seeking nuclear weapons are unfounded accusations,” he said. “We are confident in the peaceful nature of the nuclear program and are ready to address concerns and concerns through diplomacy.”
The Foreign Minister reiterated his previous statements by him and other Iranian officials that direct negotiations with the US have been off the table as long as Washington remains hostile.
“The negotiations must be carried out from a position of equality, equity and dignity, not under the ‘maximum pressure’ or military threat,” he said.
“As long as the ‘maximum pressure’ and threat persist, there is no fair condition for negotiation. We will not be involved in the in-person meetings,” Araguchi said, referring to ways to maintain and further strengthen the already illegal, unilateral sanctions against the U.S. Islamic Republican Party, saying it has repeatedly threatened Terrans with military attacks.
Nevertheless, Iran has kept the door open for diplomacy, Aragut pointed out.
“We announced that the path of diplomacy has not been closed and is open to indirect negotiations with the United States,” he said.
Elsewhere in his remarks, officials warned that the Israeli regime was trying to ignite wider regional conflicts, pointing to attacks on Tel Aviv’s expansionist regions, namely the war on the Genocide in the Gaza Strip and fatal attacks on the occupied West Bank, Lebanon and Syria.
MP/