Araghchi also discussed the measures that were taken at the UN Security Council and issues related to the snapback mechanism, and the consequences of the decisions that have been made so far in this regard.
Achieving a negotiated and diplomatic solution was not out of reach
In response to a question raised at the meeting about four conditions that, according to media reports, the US had set for negotiating with Iran, Iran’s Foreign Minister said that, “The conditions that media reports have claimed have never been told to us directly. We had only talked about the nuclear issue during recent months — of course, indirectly. Messages were exchanged between us and the US, directly or indirectly, through a mediator. But no topic except for the nuclear issue has ever been discussed.”
“Our proposals were clear in these exchanges, and we think that if our proposal had been paid attention to, and the opportunity for diplomacy had not been destroyed or restricted in such a way, achieving a negotiated and diplomatic solution would not have been out of reach. Still, there is a possibility for that, on the condition that the other party enters the negotiations in good faith and that it involves ensuring mutual interests.”
Araghchi said that “the difference between today and the past is that a new issue has been added: the act they committed at the Security Council. As was said earlier, this act can make any future negotiation harder and more complicated and can make achieving any negotiated solution harder.”
He emphasized that “Despite all these, Iran’s Foreign Ministry will continue its attempts to advance diplomacy. From our viewpoint, the role of diplomacy can never be ignored or eliminated. We will continue our efforts so that, as I said, according to the changed conditions — whether after threats or military threats or after the implementation of the snapback — the next negotiation will not be the same as those in the past.”
The Cairo agreement no longer effective
Araghchi continued, “We signed an agreement with the IAEA on a new form of cooperation between Iran and the agency. The reason was very clear. Given the changes in the field that have occurred and the attacks on our nuclear facilities, cooperation with the agency could no longer continue in the same way it was in the past. Because of security threats and safety concerns, it was definitely required that a new framework be defined for our cooperation.”
The senior diplomat added, “The agency agreed to the agreement and accepted that a new framework was needed. Several rounds of negotiations were held with the agency, and finally, the dialogue yielded an outcome, and the Cairo Agreement was signed.”
However, the Foreign Minister said that the Cairo Agreement could no longer be the basis for our cooperation with the agency. “Iran’s decision regarding the continuation of cooperation with the agency will be announced,” he said.
Araghchi explained, “As we said following the signing of the Cairo Agreement, the implementation of the snapback mechanism has changed all conditions, and we are now facing a new situation. Just as military attacks changed the conditions, new decisions must now be made. I think the Cairo Agreement is no longer effective under the new conditions.”
No justified reason for snapback
Araghchi, emphasizing Iran’s peaceful approach toward its nuclear program, said, “To demonstrate that Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful and to show the Islamic Republic’s goodwill in pursuing a negotiated and mutually agreed solution — one that safeguards Iran’s interests and builds trust — Iran has walked the path it needed to walk.”
He added, “We began cooperating with the Agency, conducted the necessary diplomatic consultations, and presented constructive, fair, and well-balanced proposals. At present, Western countries have no pretext to accuse Iran of avoiding negotiations or failing to cooperate with the Agency. Likewise, there is no justified reason for triggering the snapback mechanism, just as there was none for a military attack against Iran in the past.”
[It is being updated …]
