Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh said on Tuesday that the US had sent a message to Iran for negotiations, but Washington must give assurances to the Islamic Republic that it is not intending to use the consultations.
Officials made the remarks Tuesday while speaking during a webinar called “Israel Attack on Iran: Next Prospect.” The webinar was held by the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Political Research Centre. This is led by Khatibzadeh.
The event comes two weeks after the end of the 12-day war that began with Israel’s airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and civilian regions on June 13th.
Iran responded vigorously to the regime’s attacks, using ballistic missiles and drones to attack various parts of the Israeli occupation area. The military also launched a missile strike at a US Air Force Base in Qatar on June 23, after Washington entered the war directly and bombed three major Iranian nuclear sites a day ago.
The US and Israel alleged that they had attempted to dismantle Iran’s nuclear program, claiming that the country intended to create a bomb, despite the strong rejection of the Islamic Republic’s Intelligence report and confirmations from both the UN nuclear watchdog were recorded in Iran’s nuclear activities.
“We have received a message to start negotiations, but the other side needs to recognize that we should misuse negotiations on Iran and the international community and try to sort things out at the negotiation table if we can’t achieve our goals through war,” the vice minister said.
He emphasized that negotiations should be based on equality and mutual benefits. Otherwise, the lecture will be pointless. Iran has repeatedly made it clear that it is sticking to the path of diplomacy, he added.
Diplomacy, whether in war or peace, has always been an option, and negotiation is one of the tools of diplomacy, Khatibzadeh said. But he should have appropriate conditions and the other side should attract Iran’s trust so that negotiations are being made.
Officials further said Iran has not invaded any country in the past 200 years, but it knows well how to put an end to the attack.
“It’s up to them to decide whether they want to deal with us with respect or through conflict. What the US did was unacceptable and unforgettable, and a blatant violation of Iran’s rights.
Foreign Ministry officials also mentioned Europe’s role in resolving existing standoffs against Iran’s nuclear program.
He said Europe has not fulfilled its commitment following the US withdrawal from Iran’s nuclear deal in 2018.
Now he said Europe is facing a critical and critical moment. “If you want to play a strategic role, you have to prove that there is cultural and moral credibility. But so far, it’s all about trying to promote a political agenda,” Khatibzadeh said.
MNA/IRN