Iran, confident of peaceful nature of its nuclear program, never left negotiation table: FM

Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has asserted that Iran has never acted as the party to leave the negotiation table due to its confidence in the peaceful nature of its nuclear energy program.

“In the nuclear issue, we never left the negotiation table because we have been confident in the peaceful nature of our nuclear program,” he said during a televised interview on Tuesday.

“We have no problem with negotiations whether in principle or basis, although, some of the other parties’ excessive demands have caused some problems and adversities in negotiations,” the top diplomat noted.

Araghchi also emphasized that the Islamic Republic’s “main demand” is finding a way towards resumption of nuclear negotiations.

He also described as “positive” the country’s recent talks with the European trio of the UK, France, and Germany, which are parties to Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal.

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An Iranian deputy FM describes as “constructive” the latest talks held with the E3 on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal.

The talks were attended by senior Iranian diplomats, Majid Takht-Ravanchi and Kazem Gharibabadi, as well as the representatives of the European states, European Union’s foreign policy chief Enrique Mora, and other European experts.

“The talks with the Europeans have been essentially positive. We witnessed some seriousness in them, and their desire to reach a resolution based on negotiations.”

He, however, laid emphasis on Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s insistence on the country’s not pinning hopes and relying exclusively on negotiations and instead trying to neutralize the illegal and unilateral sanctions that the United States and its European allies imposed on the country.

“We do not abandon this course, but are not attached to it either, and would try to neutralize the sanctions by relying on the country’s domestic capabilities.”

The official underlined that the Islamic Republic has always stressed its participation in “dignified and honorable” negotiations.

Araghchi also referred to the US’s 2018 withdrawal from the 2015 landmark nuclear deal (JCPOA), asserting that Tehran has not engaged in any nuclear negotiations with the incoming US administration as it was Americans who pulled out.

He said, “After the US withdrawal, the Europeans negotiated with Washington, and our policy is still the same. We will not negotiate with the US over the nuclear issue until it returns to the JCPOA and announces its relevant policy.”

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The official also pointed to Russia and China’s role in the nuclear issue.

According to Araghchi, the issue of Ukraine had led to some rifts between Europe and Russia.

The duo, however, were still part of the nuclear issue, he added, noting that the recent talks had also featured addressing the issue of their participation in the matter.

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