Tehran, YJC. Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister says the nuclear deal concerns only one of the problems existing between Iran and the US while a host of other issues remain unresolved.
Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister and nuclear negotiator Abbas Araqchi who was speaking on the state TV on Sunday evening said "The objective of the Geneva agreement is not Iran-West or Iran-US détente. It is not a peace contract. The enmity between Iran and the US remains as it is. The Geneva agreement tires only to solve one of the disagreements between Iran and the west. That does not mean that our enmity with the US is over, not at all, enmity will remain as it is.”
He also pointed to the final agreement between Iran and the P5+1 and said "On February 17 Iran and the P5+1 are going to hold negotiations in Vienna, which I have to say, are going to be tough negotiations.”
Asserting that it is agreed that the negotiations do not last more than one year, he added "If the other side comes with strong will and avoids being too much demanding, we are sure to reach a comprehensive outcome.”
Araqchi further maintained that the talks are not sure when to end.
He added "The next round’s first session will be held in Vienna, because agreement has been made to hold the talks in countries where there are US headquarters.”
"Initially Geneva was to host Iran and the P5+1, but due to the talks on Syria, we decided that Vienna would host the negotiations,” he said.
The Iranian nuclear negotiator also pointed to talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency and said "The problems that exist between Iran and the IAEA are technical, but it is to regret that there is a political tint to them. There have been statements by the IAEA representatives which go beyond protocols. A framework must be found within which Iran and the IAEA could talk. We are not to consider ourselves bound to enact whatever the IAEA says outside of the codes of conduct. We take care that our cooperation with the IAEA does not exceed a limit which we define.”
"Some expect the US to abandon its hostility. They even ask why it still keeps its colonial attitude. The US is the same; its hostility is the same as that which began 35 years ago and persists so far, forming itself into diverse shapes,” he said.
Araqchi also pointed to US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman’s recent statements concerning Iran’s ballistic missiles, saying "Sherman does not say that Iran has by no means agreed to talk about these issues in the first step, but she says that they will consider it in the final step. I have to guarantee her and any other person in the P5+1 who thinks so, that issues relating to the Islamic Republic of Iran’s defense system are by no means negotiable. We will not let anyone introduce into the talks things beside the nuclear issue, things that relate to defense in particular, as we have not allowed that in previous talks, something also tacitly indicated by Mrs. Sherman. We will not have that in the final step either. The defense issues of the Islamic Republic of Iran are not subject to negotiation or compromise and are sure to be our red lines in any sort of negotiation.”
Your Comment