Seyed Abbas Araghchi, the Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran, discussed the current state of Iran-U.S. relations in an interview with Al Jazeera. He emphasized that there are currently no plans to meet with American officials and that the news published in this regard is merely media speculation.
Iran's Approach in Negotiations
Araghchi clarified that Iran does not see a necessity to meet with the Americans at this time, and Iran's conditions are clear. He also referred to the ongoing consultations by mediators, especially Qatari and Pakistani mediators, who are still examining Iran's conditions and terms.
He further mentioned the Vance message, stating that it has been carefully reviewed and discussed in high-level meetings. If Washington's aim with the Vance message is to exacerbate differences, it would be a new mistake added to America's previous errors.
Preparedness for Any Scenario
Araghchi also emphasized the American side's efforts to open a dialogue and broader understanding, considering it a positive step. He added that after Washington agrees to Iran's conditions, a decision will be made regarding the direct or indirect nature of the negotiations.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran also referred to the status of cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, stating that there is still a long way to return to normal cooperation with this body. He emphasized that Iran is a member of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and is committed to its obligations under this treaty.
Araghchi pointed to updates in Iran's military capabilities, stating that weaknesses have been addressed and new weapons have been tested. He also mentioned the high readiness of Iran's armed forces, stating that we do not rule out any possibility of war and are prepared for all scenarios.
Iran's Demands and the Strait of Hormuz Situation
Araghchi called for an end to the war on all fronts, including Lebanon. He also stated that the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz is conditional on accepting the new shipping route defined by Iran and the Sultanate of Oman in this strait and the closure of other routes.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran called for the restoration of oil exemptions and the release of all frozen Iranian assets, including our country's assets in Qatar. He also referred to the Qatari side's proposal to reduce the implementation period of Iran's proposal to five days, stating that at this stage, we have reached a proposal that reduces the implementation period to two days.
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