Iran ready for ‘fair’ talks with US but not on defence capabilities
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Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said no talks between Tehran and Washington were currently arranged.
PHOTO: REUTERS
ISTANBUL - Iran is prepared for the resumption of talks with the United States, but they should be fair and not include Iran’s defence capabilities, Iran’s chief diplomat said on Jan 30, as regional powers work to prevent military conflict between the two foes.
US President Donald Trump said on Jan 29 he planned to speak with Iran, even as the US sent another warship to the Middle East
US-Iranian tensions have soared in recent weeks after a bloody crackdown on protests across Iran by its clerical authorities.
One of the main demands by the US to resume talks with Iran is curbing its missile programme, a senior Iranian official told Reuters last week. Iran rejects that demand.
Speaking at a press conference in Istanbul after talks with his Turkish counterpart, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Iran was ready to participate in “fair and equitable” negotiations, but added there were currently no meetings with US officials arranged.
“Iran has no problem with negotiations, but negotiations cannot take place under the shadow of threats. They must certainly set aside their threats and change their approach toward a fair and equitable negotiation, as Mr Trump himself said in his post,” he said.
Tehran says it is ready for talks or war
“I should also state unequivocally that Iran’s defensive and missile capabilities – and Iran’s missiles – will never be the subject of any negotiations,” said Mr Araghchi.
“We will preserve and expand our defensive capabilities to whatever extent is necessary to defend the country,” he said.
Regional allies, including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia, have been engaging in diplomatic efforts to prevent a military confrontation between Washington and Tehran.
In response to US threats of military action, Mr Araghchi said Tehran was ready for either negotiations or warfare, and also ready to engage with regional countries to promote stability and peace.
Mr Araghchi and Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan said they had been speaking to each other almost every day to discuss the tensions.
Turkey ready to be ‘facilitator’
US officials say Mr Trump is reviewing his options but has not decided whether to strike Iran.
Mr Trump has repeatedly threatened to intervene if Iran continued to kill protesters in its crackdown on the countrywide demonstrations over economic privations and political repression, but the protests have since abated.
Israel’s Ynet news website said on Jan 30 that a US Navy destroyer had docked at the Israeli port of Eilat.
NATO member Turkey shares a border with Iran and opposes any foreign intervention there. It has called for US-Iran dialogue to avoid further destabilisation and has been in touch with both sides to seek a solution.
Earlier on Jan 30, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told his Iranian counterpart Masoud Pezeshkian in a call that Ankara was ready to play a “facilitator” role between the sides.
Speaking alongside Mr Araghchi, Mr Fidan said he had long discussions on the issue with US special envoy Steve Witkoff on Jan 29 and would keep lines open with Washington to avoid conflict and the isolation of Iran.
Mr Fidan said US-Iran nuclear negotiations must restart and would pave the way to lifting sanctions on Iran.
“We call the parties to the negotiating table” to address the issues “one by one,” he said. REUTERS
