Tehran, YJC. Senior statesman says Iran will not seek a resumption of diplomatic relations with Washington even if a comprehensive nuclear deal would decrease existing tensions.
Ali Shamkhani, secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security
Council, speaking in an interview with the Financial Times said Tehran position
in the region has been strengthened by its role in facilitating a peaceful
change of government in Baghdad last summer; as well as by the survival of Syrian
president Bashar al-Assad in Damascus.
Providing comments on diplomatic negotiations between Iran and
the US he said that the two countries "can behave in a way that not to use their
energy against each other. A nuclear agreement can be very crucial in this
regard.”
"Everything will depend on the honesty of the Americans in
the nuclear talks,” he was quoted as asserting.
Asked if the regular meetings between Iranian and American
diplomats during the nuclear talks with P5+1 could lead to a rapprochement
between the two countries, he stated, "No. Negotiations are only for the
nuclear issue.”
The senior politician also dismissed suspicions voiced by
Western countries during nuclear talks that the Iranian Supreme Leader does not
genuinely support a lasting nuclear deal.
He dismissed the concerns by saying that the Iranian leader
has had enough occasions based on which he could break the negotiation series.