AJ
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said today that the presence of the CENTCOM commander made no difference to the essence of any talks, having been told the commander was there to visit on of their own ships.
“There was a request from the American side for him to be present during what I mentioned – that customary, polite encounter that usually takes place – but we categorically opposed it,” Araghchi stated, noting that Iran didn’t accept the presence of a military official in their negotiating process.
Araghchi said that during the talks, a direct meeting didn’t take place, but there was an encounter out of diplomatic courtesy.
“When delegations enter, there was at least a handshake and an initial courtesy – this used to happen in the past as well,” Arachchi noted, continuing: “In all past rounds, negotiations were conducted indirectly, but regardless, either upon entry or exit, the two delegations would encounter each other.”
Araghchi said that it wasn’t strange at all coming across the other delegation during talks, stating that there was a common practice in observing diplomatic courtesies.
Commenting on the progress of the talks, Araghchi said: “I believe that if our conclusion is that this seriousness exists on the opposing side, these negotiations continue, but if there are signs that this serious exists, but the signs are faint.”
Araghghi noted that the continuation of certain sanctions and some activities in the military sphere created doubt as to the seriousness and readiness of the US side for genuine negotiations, but they were monitoring everything, and then would evaluate all the signs together to make a decision regarding the continuation of the negotiations.
IRAN FM ON PEACE TALKS:
Foreign Minister Araghchi spoke later to cameras, saying: “Why have we insisted on enrichment so much, and are not willing to give it up, even if war is imposed on us? Because no one has the right to tell us what we should and shouldn’t have.”
“This is based on the principle of negotiation of domination – we have the right to enrich,” Araghchi added.
“If there are questions, we answer; if there is no trust, we can create trust, but no one has the right to tell us that you shouldn’t have it because I want it so,” Araghchi said.
Araghchi continued: “Enrichment is important, but besides that, it is more important that the Islamic Republic of Iran proves that it does not take orders and does not accept domination from anyone.”
According to Araghchi, if there is any question, any ambiguity regarding the goals of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, then Iran will answer, to resolve through ambiguity, and the only way is through diplomacy.
“They tried other ways, but it didn’t work, they bombed our facilities but the results they wanted was not achieved – knowledge cannot be destroyed by bombing – technology cannot be destroyed,” Araghchi said, adding that there is no other option to negotiate, and this is what the American team were told a “couple of days ago.”
Araghchi said: “Negotiations will only come to fruition when the rights of the Iranian people are acknowledged and respected and we can exercise our rights,” adding that Iran’s rights are official and existed, so Iran wanted their rights to be respected: “Iran’s power lies in its ability to resist bullying, hegemony, and pressure from others.”
“They are afraid of our atomic bomb, but we are not looking for an atomic bomb, our atomic bomb is the power to say no to great powers, and their military deployment in the region does not scare us – we are people of diplomacy, but we are also people of war – we are not looking for war, but we are ready to fight if we are challenged,” Araghchi warned.
In closing, Araghchi continued: “We are diplomatic because we have logic on our side, because we choose words, we are logical – if they choose the path of diplomacy, we will do the same – if they speak to Iran with respect, we will respond with respect, but if they speak with force, we will respond with force.”
