Iran’s foreign minister advises neighbors to exclude US, E3 regional talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called on the neighboring countries to the Islamic Republic to hold talks about regional developments without foreign interference.

In a post on his Twitter account on Tuesday, Zarif invited the neighboring states to exclude the United States and the three European signatories to the nuclear deal of 2015 – Britain, France and Germany – from regional talks as the very same countries are the cause of the problems.

“There won't be ANY talks about OUR region with them [US/E3] as they're the problem themselves,” he said.

Dear neighbors

Why ask US/E3 for inclusion in talks with Iran when:

a) There won't be ANY talks about OUR region with them as they're the problem themselves

b) We can speak directly about our region without outside meddling.

Hormuz Peace Endeavor (#HOPE) is still on the table pic.twitter.com/6RMwfmJIA7

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 8, 2020

The top Iranian diplomat also emphasized that countries in the region "can speak directly without outside meddling."

Zarif once again stressed the importance of implementing Tehran’s peace initiative to promote security in the Persian Gulf, the Hormuz Peace Endeavor (HOPE), which he said “is still on the table.”

Rouhani tells US to leave region, as neighbors not outsiders can ensure own security

Iran says the US is not welcome in the region and must leave it as neighbors not outsiders can themselves ensure the security of the Persian Gulf.

Addressing a speech at the UN General Assembly meeting in September 2019, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani presented the HOPE initiative and invited all regional countries to participate in it.

Zarif’s remarks came shortly after he said in an Arabic tweet that Iran would not engage in talks with the Western countries on the region due to their interventionist approach.

يبدو أن بعض الجيران يطالب الغرب أن يكونوا جُزء من عملية التفاوض مع إيران!

نحن لا نتفاوض مع الغربيين حول المنطقة.
تدخلاتهم هي أساس المشاكل.

نحن على استعداد دائم للحوار مع جيراننا و ترجمناه في طرح مشاریع أمن المنطقة 1986 ومجمع الحوار الإقليمي 2016 ومبادرة هرمز للسلام 2019

— Javad Zarif (@JZarif) December 8, 2020

He said it seems that some of Iran’s neighbors have asked the West that they also be part of any negotiations with Tehran. “We will not negotiate with the West over the region. The main problem is their intervention.”

Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud has said the Persian Gulf countries must be “consulted” before the United States revives a nuclear deal with Iran.

“Primarily what we expect is that we are fully consulted, that we and our other regional friends are fully consulted in what goes on vis-à-vis the negotiations with Iran,” he told AFP on the sidelines of a security conference in Bahrain’s Manama on Saturday.

Saudi Arabia urges ‘permanent ban’ on Iran’s uranium enrichment

Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud claims Saudi Arabia is not opposed to a possible return of the US to the Iran nuclear deal, but that a “permanent ban” should be imposed on Tehran’s uranium enrichment.

The top Saudi diplomat also said such consultation would be the only path towards a “sustainable” agreement.

The nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), was signed between Iran and six world states — namely the US, Germany, France, Britain, Russia and China — and was ratified in the form of UN Security Council Resolution 2231.

However, Washington under President Donald Trump unilaterally pulled out in May 2018 and reinstated the anti-Iran sanctions that had been lifted under the deal.

Saudi Arabia, which enjoyed cozy relations with the Trump administration, supported Washington’s withdrawal from the JCPOA and its “maximum pressure” campaign against the Islamic Republic.

However, Trump’s successor, Joe Biden, has hinted at returning to the nuclear deal. He was vice president when it came into force.

The prospect of the US rejoining the JCPOA has been a matter of concern for Saudi Arabia amid speculations that the Biden administration may reassess Washington’s ties with Riyadh.

Biden has vowed to end support for the Yemen war, penalize human rights violations and treat Saudi Arabia like “the pariah that they are.”

Read more: 

• Borrell: US must rejoin Iran nuclear deal as landmark of successful diplomacy

• Nuclear deal won’t be renegotiated, US must respect UN Resolution endorsing accord, Zarif tells Rome forum

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