Iran has warned the United States against trying to sabotage the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear energy program and insisting on its unreasonable demands from Tehran.
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi made the remarks in an interview with Egypt’s al-Qahira al-Ikhbariyya news channel, during a recent trip to the country that wound down on Tuesday.
He cautioned that any attempt on the part of the United States to derail the nuclear activities would render the possibility of a diplomatic agreement between the two sides unattainable.
“If the United States intends to disrupt our peaceful nuclear program, we are certainly not prepared to accept that,” the top diplomat said. “In that case, this (reaching an agreement) would not be achievable.”
He reemphasized Tehran’s unwillingness to compromise on its core nuclear rights, underlining that uranium enrichment was a non-negotiable scientific achievement of the country that had been developed through domestic expertise.
The remarks concerned various American officials’ insistence on multiple occasions on the country’s reducing its enrichment levels to “zero.”
Tehran, though, has maintained that recognition of its nuclear rights and the lifting of the US’s illegal and unilateral sanctions were non-negotiable matters.
The official acknowledged existence of many differences between the two sides, some of which amounted to “differences in principle.”
He, however, did not completely rule out the likelihood of a deal.
He, meanwhile, also stressed that negotiations would not be quick or simple, referencing extended talks with the P5+1 group — comprising the US, the UK, France, Russia, and China plus Germany — in the past.
“Naturally, these negotiations are not easy,” Araghchi said. “In the previous round, talks lasted over two years. So, one cannot expect to reach an agreement in just five rounds of negotiation.”
The foreign minister, though, did not completely rule out the likelihood of a deal.
“That does not mean that reaching an agreement is impossible,” he said. “If the United States abandons its unreasonable and impractical demands and properly understands the reality of Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, then we are ready to reach an agreement.”
Iran, Egypt’s agreement to broaden diplomatic and economic engagement
In a separate development, Araghchi highlighted existence of a shared political will between Iran and Egypt to enhance bilateral engagement.
He said both countries had agreed to initiate formal political consultations at the level of deputy foreign ministers.
“I realized that there is a shared will in both Iran and Egypt to strengthen relations in all areas,” he noted.
The upcoming dialogue will address bilateral, regional, and international issues, Araghchi noted, adding that the countries already collaborated within international organizations and shared many areas of common interest on the global stage.
According to the official, on the economic front, both nations agreed to bolster cooperation, with a particular emphasis on expanding tourism, despite the illegal and unilateral sanctions that were being enforced against the Islamic Republic by Washington and its allies.
“Despite the unjust sanctions, there are legal trade routes we can utilize,” Araghchi said.
