Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Saeed Khatibzadeh (AFP)
Deputy Foreign Minister and Head of the Center for Political and International Studies at the Iranian Foreign Ministry, Saeed Khatibzadeh, confirmed on Tuesday that his country is receiving contradictory messages from Washington, adding that Iran is ready to reach a “peaceful” agreement, but will not conclude any deal at the expense of its national security.
Khatibzadeh said, in his speech during the twelfth session of the Abu Dhabi Strategic Forum, that the United States conveys to Tehran, through some mediating countries, contradictory messages regarding the nuclear negotiations. He stressed that Iran seeks a “fully peaceful nuclear agreement,” stressing at the same time that the Islamic Republic “will not accept any form of settlement or complacency on national security issues.”
According to the conservative Iranian Fars Agency, Khatibzadeh expressed his pride in the Iranian nuclear program, which he said was completely developed within the country, reiterating that Iran does not seek to produce or possess a nuclear weapon, and is ready to cooperate in order to reassure the international community in this regard. Khatibzadeh added that the contradictory messages sent by Washington through third parties to Tehran have increased the complexity of the negotiation process. However, Iran is still ready to reach a sustainable and balanced agreement that guarantees mutual interests.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi confirmed, the day before Sunday, in an interview with the Iranian government media website, that “there is currently no possibility of resuming negotiations with the United States,” stressing at the same time that the possibility of negotiation may only be raised if Washington shows readiness for “an equal and mutually beneficial dialogue.” Indirect Iranian-American negotiations stopped last June after the Israeli occupation launched an aggression against Iran, which included an American bombing of Iranian nuclear facilities.
