General

Iran awaiting US, Europe decisions: Spox

Tehran, IRNA – The spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry announced here on Monday that the talks have remarkably progressed and that Iran is waiting for decisions from the United States and the Europe.

Saeed Khatibzadeh made the remarks at his weekly press briefing in Tehran.

Asked about removal of the nonnuclear sanctions, Khatibzadeh replied that Iranian delegation presented its proposals in written form after going back to Vienna Talks from Tehran; meanwhile, all sanctions which are obstacles to Iran’s economic interests and are inconsistent with the other side’s commitments have to be lifted.

About the process of the talks, the spokesman said what has remained are the most serious and toughest issues that should be solved.

If “we reach a point” where the other side thinks that Iran would ignore its red lines and people’s rights, they should know that the country will never make a deal on the great Iranian people rights, the spokesman stressed.

Touching upon the remarks made by the Zionist regime of Israel’s prime minister about the possible agreement in Vienna, the spokesman said heads of the regime have always been after creating a psychological war and taking anti-diplomacy measures.

About guarantees in the talks, Khatibzadeh noted that the quick return of Iran’s programs is the most important guarantee the country has offered during the negotiations in Vienna, Austria.

Iran and the six world powers – US, UK, France, Russia and China plus Germany – reached a landmark nuclear agreement on July 14, 2015.

But, former US president Donald Trump exited the deal unilaterally on May 8, 2018, and imposed as he claimed the highest level of sanctions against Iran in November the same year.

Now, Iranian representatives and envoys from 4+1 have been negotiating for weeks to settle disagreements and reach a good agreement.

Iran says the US should lift the sanctions; then it will be allowed to return to the deal again.

Elsewhere, the spokesman talked of negotiations between Iran and Saudi Arabia and said if the latter pays attention to continuation of talks and the real determination, the talks will bear fruit as those two are basic principles of dialogue.

Despite the problems and disagreements, Islamic Republic of Iran has always been ready to hold talks with its neighbor in the Persian Gulf, Khatibzadeh added.

Referring to Australia’s move to put Palestinian Islamic resistance movement, also called Hamas, on terrorist list, the spokesman said it was a measure to use some key understandings and words in the international relations as tool for political purposes.

He went on to say that everyone knows what is behind those measures and decisions.

Turning to the issue of South Korea’s debt to Iran and the visit of Iranian delegation to that country under the request of the Korean side, the spokesman said that no practical move has been seen from Seoul yet.

Elsewhere, the spokesman pointed to the debt of the UK to Iran, noting that the process of repaying the debt has been long and boring.

About Iran’s water right from Hirmand River, Khatibzadeh said the issue is a criterion through which the country can estimate level of responsibility of the interim government of Taliban in Afghanistan.

Again about the Vienna Talks, the spokesman said that if they (the US) want to see different results, it is natural that they should take a different measure.

On February 5, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said that guarantee and verification after removal of the sanctions are among Iran’s main issues in the Vienna Talks.

Source: Islamic Republic News Agency – IRNA