Araghchi: Fair deal attainable if Iran, US show ‘creativity, flexibility’
‘US has not asked for zero enrichment in talks’ Iranian FM, counterparts confer about latest negotiations
Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran and the United States could strike a nuclear deal if the pair demonstrated “creativity and flexibility.”
“A fair and equitable deal, I believe, is achievable, but we need some creativity and flexibility by both sides, so a deal is at our reach, and there is no any other solution for this question”, Araghchi said in an interview with US TV network MSNBC published on Friday.
His remarks came days after Iran and the US concluded a second round of the Oman-mediated talks in the Swiss city of Geneva, during which both sides agreed on “a set of guiding principles” to move forward in the nuclear negotiations.
During the interview, the top diplomat noted that the US side had not asked for zero enrichment – an issue that has been a major demand by Washington and a sticking point in previous talks.
“We have not offered any suspension, and the US side has not asked for zero enrichment,” Araghchi said.
“What we are now talking about is how to make sure that Iran’s nuclear program, including enrichment, is peaceful and would remain peaceful forever,” the minister added.
His comments stand in contrast to information relayed by high-ranking US officials including President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly said Iran must not be allowed to enrich uranium at any level.
Trump, who has ordered the deployment of aircraft carriers and warships to the region, suggested on Thursday that the US would attack Iran again if Tehran does not make a deal within 10 days, which he later extended to 15.
Iran has repeatedly said that any aggression against the country would be met with a decisive response.
No military solution
Araghchi said that Iran’s nuclear issue should be resolved through peaceful means, reiterating that there was no military solution to the issue.
“That has been tested last year, and there was a huge attack on our facilities. They killed and assassinated our scientists, but they couldn’t kill our nuclear program. Why? Because it is developed by ourselves, by our scientists. This is a technology developed by us, belongs to us, and it cannot be destroyed by bombings, militarily”.
Araghchi said that if the US wanted to ensure that Iran’s nuclear program was peaceful and would remain peaceful forever, the only solution would be a diplomatic one.
“There are both technical commitments and political commitments and technical measures to be taken in order to make sure that this program is only for peaceful purposes. We are now working on those technical questions. This is why Rafael Grossi, the director general of the IAEA, was in the recent negotiations [in Geneva]”, he said.
Preparing draft of deal
The top Iranian diplomat further said the next step in talks is for him to present a draft of a possible deal to Washington “in the next two, three days.”
Iran ups diplomacy
Araghchi, who has times and again contacted his counterparts from regional countries in recent weeks over tensions between Iran and the US, also made new phone calls with his Egyptian, Saudi and Russian foreign ministers to discuss the latest negotiations.
In his phone conversation with Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty, Araghchi underscored efforts to prepare a draft negotiating text with the US based on mutual respect.
He also conferred the issue with his Saudi counterpart, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic efforts to address longstanding issues surrounding Iran’s nuclear program.
Saudi Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud expressed hope for constructive negotiations leading to a mutually acceptable outcome.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also expressed support for a fair diplomatic solution that respects Tehran’s legitimate rights enshrined in the principles of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
EU offers help
Meanwhile, EU Commission spokesman Anouar El Anouni said on Friday the European Union was willing to contribute to a “meaningful” process to help break the nuclear standoff.
“We are prepared to contribute to any meaningful diplomatic process. Because, I reiterate, diplomacy must be given a chance,” Anouni said at a press briefing in Brussels on Friday.
He stressed that a sustainable solution to the Iranian nuclear issue could “only be achieved through negotiations.”