Seyed Ali Mousavi made the remarks in an interview with a documentary show titled Front Line, broadcast on the PBS channel.
Mousavi noted that Iran still believes negotiation is the best resolution to solve disputes. However, he said, “Iran must be given assurance that diplomacy is not a cover-up for achieving arrogant goals or a tool for fraud.”
He said, “Iran’s nuclear program has always been peaceful, under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency, and this has been confirmed in the agency’s reports.”
Referring to the excessive demands of the Trump administration regarding “zero enrichment” on Iran’s soil, Mousavi said that all member states of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) have the right to enrichment. Uranium enrichment in Iran is under the supervision of the IAEA and is exclusively for peaceful purposes, such as development, research, and the treatment of certain diseases.
Referring to the unilateral withdrawal of the Trump administration from the nuclear agreement in 2018 on the pretext of its incompleteness and the attempt to achieve a “better and stronger” deal, Mousavi said, “We had a nuclear agreement – the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).”
He added, “The agreement was a big deal in the history of diplomacy and was welcomed by the international community. Unfortunately, President Trump destroyed this achievement, and European nations did not fulfill their commitments.”
Mousavi’s remarks came as indirect Tehran-Washington negotiations on Iran’s nuclear agreement and the cancellation of Iran’s sanctions were halted following the Zionist regime’s act of aggression against Iran’s national sovereignty, with the U.S.’s green light and full support for Israel.
Mousavi said that the U.S. administration bombed Iran’s atomic facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow and directly involved itself in the war against Iran. “According to Tehran, these facilities have undergone serious damage, but according to the IAEA, there has been no increase in radioactive emissions outside the facilities.”
Meanwhile, Washington still insists on zero enrichment on Iran’s soil. Iranian officials have said that Iran’s nuclear knowledge is indigenous, and producing peaceful nuclear energy is Iran’s right, which is non-negotiable.
Mousavi noted that Iranian officials have always stated they are not opposed to negotiations and are ready to continue the diplomatic process to resolve Iran’s nuclear issue. “They have emphasized, however, that this requires guarantees that such attacks will not be repeated.”
Aggressive Attacks on Iran Amidst Tehran-Washington Negotiations Destroyed the Credibility of Diplomacy
In another part of the interview, Mousavi said, “We have always believed in negotiation and dialogue. We were in the middle of negotiations when the Zionist regime of Israel attacked us, supported by the U.S. This regime and the U.S. have destroyed the credibility of diplomacy and have distorted the NPT framework.”
Iran’s ambassador said, “We believe that diplomacy is the best way to resolve disputes, but we must be guaranteed that it is not being used as a cover-up for arrogant goals or as a tool for fraud.”
Mousavi said that the Zionist regime’s miscalculations about the Iranian people did not lead to the realization of its goals. “We are strong enough to defend our national interests and our nation.”
“If we are guaranteed that the talks are real and authentic, we will negotiate. At the same time, the nation and our military forces are fully ready to defend against any violation.”
