“The interaction that took place was through Qatari mediation. In fact, the Iranian delegation conveyed its views and conditions to the American side very clearly and explicitly through the mediators,” he told IRNA late Tuesday, New York time.
According to the spokesperson, Iran’s conditions include an end to fighting on all fronts, a halt to US acts of aggression, an end to the US naval blockade and economic war against Iran, and the release of Iranian assets.
He said Iran has also conveyed its conditions for diplomacy in recent weeks, including its position on issues such as the security of the Strait of Hormuz. “Today, the presence of our delegation in New York provided an opportunity to clearly convey these points to the American side.”
The meeting between Iranian and American representatives was held on Tuesday on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly.
Araghchi’s bilateral meetings
According to the spokesperson, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi held separate meetings with officials from several countries on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly (UNGA).
Bilateral relations, as well as developments in West Asia and elsewhere in the world, were on the agenda of those meetings, Baqaei added.
Trump’s anti-Iran remarks
On US President Donald Trump’s speech at the UNGA, during which he made remarks against the Islamic Republic of Iran, Baqaei said the remarks were nothing more than “repeated claims and allegations” that showed desperation.
“The impression shared by diplomats and delegations from many countries here was that these remarks did not stem from strength, but from desperation,” he said.
Turning the UNGA, the largest international gathering, into a scene for making remarks that are “entirely unlawful” and contrary to diplomatic norms is not a sign of strength, Baqaei added.
“Threatening a country with military attack is an admission of the nature of the current ruling establishment in the United States and an admission of committing international crimes,” the spokesperson said.
Iran’s reaction
In protest at Trump’s remarks, the Iranian delegation, headed by Foreign Minister Araghchi, walked out of the meeting, Baqaei said.
He added that one of the diplomats of Iran’s Permanent Mission to the UN in New York remained in the meeting, in line with the usual practice, to follow the discussions.
Responding to comments asking why all Iranian delegates did not leave the meeting, the spokesperson said Iranian diplomats regard Iran’s seat at the UN as a stronghold to fulfill their duties.
“Iran’s seat in a forum like the United Nations General Assembly is our stronghold, and certainly, if we were to leave this stronghold because of others’ harsh, hostile or offensive remarks, we would have failed to fulfill our duty,” Baqaei said, emphasizing that Iranian diplomats should monitor developments and preserve Iran’s strong presence in such gatherings.
