Iran’s independent initiative changed playground in Vienna talks

Translated from Nour News 

The reality, which cannot be hidden is that Iran’s active diplomacy has dispelled real and fake concerns about a possible crash of the Vienna talks over Russia's new demand.

Since about ten days ago, Russia demanded guarantees from the United States to make sure that economic exchanges between Tehran and Moscow, following a possible deal in Vienna, will be exempt from Western sanctions imposed on Russia over the Ukraine conflict. Western officials and media outlets then did their best to introduce Russia as the main snag on the way of the success of the talks after a short pause was declared in the Vienna negotiations.

Later on, some differences were perceived between the remarks made by the Russian envoy to the talks, Mikhail Ulyanov, and the country’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, especially following a phone call with the Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian. As a result, more coverage was given to stories alleging that Russia was trying to blackmail Iran.

The Islamic Republic of Iran. however, announced that it is ready to listen to Russia's viewpoints and discuss them in detail.

In the meantime, Americans, who are the main stumbling block on the way of the conclusion of the Vienna talks and achievement of a strong deal, tried to magnify this issue in order to change the playground and hide their own weakness.

This issue, combined with the allegations made by anti-Iran media and some domestic groups, created a negative atmosphere inside the country. However, Iran’s 13^th administration has taken a different  approach to diplomatic and foreign policy issues, which is based on balancing relations with different countries. As a result, this issue was practically turned into an opportunity for Tehran to play a more active role.

Afterwards, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani explained Iran’s positions in the Vienna talks in a tweet, noting that the country will use all in its power to clinch a strong agreement. This was followed with a visit to Moscow by Iran’s top diplomat, which created a positive atmosphere under which the country could move toward maximum realization of the rights and interests of the nation.

Iran’s Nour News website had already released an article on the most important aspects of Amir-Abdollahian’s visit to Russia. Done in the heat of the Vienna talks and the ongoing developments in Ukraine, the visit practically turned into a trump card for Iran. It provided Iran with necessary conditions for the use of an active diplomacy and taking the initiative while scuttling the United States’ psychological operation. It also led to clear and unequivocal announcement of Russia's position in this regard.

In addition, Ukrainian officials have asked Iran to use its relations with Russia to reduce tensions between Moscow and Kiev. This has provided our country with an opportunity to mediate between Russia and Ukraine as well.

On the other hand, the recent developments prove beyond any doubt that unlike the United States, Russia shows respect for friendly and strategic interactions with other countries, including Iran. Therefore, it is possible under these conditions to overcome misunderstandings while standing on an equal footing with the other side.

This point is also important in that it proved the falsity of allegations made by certain Western-minded political currents in the country. It proved that despite what they say, relations between Iran and Russia have reached a level of common understanding and cooperation on the basis of bilateral interests. Within framework of such relationship, common solutions could be found for complex issues through an active diplomacy.

At the same time, the Americans, who were well aware of this issue, finally gave in to Russia's demand for guarantees. On the other hand, the practical change of the playground by Iran put Americans in a position that they now have to account for their dawdling in the Vienna talks and explain why they have so far failed to make a final political decision.

In better words, the West, especially the United States, have found out about fundamental changes in the terminology of negotiations with Iran. They now know that Tehran not only will not back down on its red lines in the talks, but will also use all its capacities in the two areas of “diplomacy” and the “field” to emerge as an effective actor that can manage its own issues in the best possible manner.

There is no doubt that, if need be, the Russians must explain about any possible change or lack of change in their demand for guarantees. However, the fact, which cannot be hidden, is that Iran’s active diplomacy has already dispelled concerns about the possible failure of the Vienna talks due to Russia's new demand. It has also led to conditions in which the real role of the negotiating countries would be clearly observed by the public opinion regardless of any media hype.

(This article was written originally in Persian and translated to English by Press TV staff. The views expressed in this piece do not necessarily reflect those of Press TV.)

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