Iran:

No Chance of Talks under US Sanctions

TEHRAN (defapress)- Iranian President's Chief of Staff Mahmoud Vaezi lashed out at Washington’s disorganized foreign policy towards Tehran, highlighting that his country, opposite to the US, is pursuing a clear foreign agenda that there will be no chance of talks unless the White House lifts all sanctions against the Islamic Republic.

News ID: 78570

Date: 01 September 2019 - 17:59

“There is no clear framework or principle in Americans’ remarks [regarding Iran],” Vaezi said, in a televised interview Saturday night, hours after Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron held a phone conversation.

He seriously criticized Washington’s foreign policy toward Iran, describing it as “haphazard”.

“But we in Iran have one single policy when it comes to the US and we are all in support of it, which is, as long as the US keeps up its hostility against Iran, there will be no chance of talks. If it changes its hostile position and lifts Iran’s sanctions, then the situation will be different,” he added.

Touching upon the Saturday phone conversation between Rouhani and Macron, Vaezi both sides are looking forward to a conclusion to their talks.

“Generally speaking, the conversation focused on banking, economic and political issues. It was a general package of topics and both sides are looking forward to its conclusion and final result,” he added.

On Thursday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters in Kuala Lumpur that no talks will be held with Washington unless the US stops economic terrorism against Tehran and returns to the nuclear deal.

"The United States is engaged in an economic war against the Iranian people and it won’t be possible for us to engage with the United States unless they stop imposing a war and engaging in economic terrorism against the Iranian people,” the top diplomat highlighted.

“So if they want to come back into the room there is a ticket that they need to purchase and that ticket is to observe the agreement,” he added.

Zarif also stressed that Iran does not want to meet for the sake of meeting, saying, “We need to meet if there is a result.”

His remarks came two days after President Rouhani said that the only way to solve problems between Tehran and Washington is that the White House stops its baseless claims about his country’s nuclear program and removes all of its unlawful sanctions against his nation.

The key to “positive developments” is in the hands of Washington, President Rouhani said during a local ceremony on Tuesday.

“If they wish for more security in the region and want to have better relations with regional countries; if they claim that they want nothing from Iran, then they have to step back from sanctions,” the president added.

“If you [US] removed all sanctions, only then the situation would change,” he stressed, adding “we are not looking for just taking a picture with somebody.”

"We won't build nuclear bombs, whether or not you say we mustn't do so," said Rouhani. "Not because of what you say, not because of your scorns and threats, but because of our own beliefs, ethics, our national security and also the fatwa of our Leader. If you're really honest about this that your only concern is this, then the concern is already resolved. So take the first step. The door cannot be unlocked without this step, which is for you to remove all illegal and unjust sanctions against the Iranian nation."

"We have always been a man of negotiations, and the whole world attests to it. We have been always ready for talks and still are."

Rouhani went on to add, "We are not seeking tension with the world. We want security in the region and across the world. We are ready for cooperation with all friendly countries. We are ready to move in line with our national security and interests while observing all international rules and regulations."

"If it is needed to talk to someone, we will do so; if it is needed to resist, we will defend [our rights]. If someone is trying to bully us, we will stand against the bully. Our ultimate goal, however, is to preserve Iran's dignity and power," said Rouhani.

"Our path is clear: if they return to their commitments, we will return too and resume our commitments. If not, we will continue our own way," the president asserted.

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