Araghchi: Iran ready for ‘fair deal’ on nuclear issue but rejects diktats
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Islamic Republic is ready for a “fair and balanced” deal over its peaceful nuclear program, stressing, however, that he has not been in contact with US mediator in nuclear talks Steve Witkoff for months.
The Iranian foreign minister made the remarks in an exclusive interview with Russia Today’s Worlds Apart program, conducted during his trip to Moscow last week.
The interview focused on tensions over Iran’s nuclear program, which remains unresolved following US-Israeli aggression against Iran in June when Tehran was in the midst of nuclear talks with Washington.
Israel carried out an unprovoked aggression against Iran on June 13, targeting several locations across Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and civilians. On June 22, the US also joined the aggression and bombed three Iranian nuclear facilities – Natanz, Fordow and Isfahan.
"It was an unprovoked and illegal attack, and then the United States joined," Araghchi said. "So, it was very strange that in the middle of negotiations they decided to attack us. That became a very bad experience for us."
Despite the attacks, Iran announced its readiness for diplomatic engagement to resolve the standoff, but only based on respect and without pressure or threats.
Responding to a question about whether the current US administration can take an approach consistent with Iranian policy, Araghchi said, “It depends if they come to the conclusion that negotiation is different from dictation. We are already ready for a fair and balanced deal, a negotiated deal, but we are not prepared for diktats.”
Taking a question about Washington's demand for zero-uranium enrichment in Iran, Araghchi said under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), member states have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
"When you deprive a country of this clear right, you are in fact weakening the entire NPT," he said.
Araghchi emphasized that Iran upholds the right to the peaceful use of nuclear technology despite the fact that its nuclear facilities were damaged “seriously” in the June attacks.
“We cannot give our right up, but at the same time, we are prepared to give full confidence that our program is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever,” he said, noting that the United States should recognize Iran’s right to enrich uranium.
On the possibility of a new war, Araghchi said Iran does not rule out another conflict but is fully prepared for it, even more prepared than during the June war, which he called a “failed experience.”