Araqchi: Iran is ready to enter nuclear negotiations from an equal position, based on mutual interests and mutual respect

According to Rokna, Seyed Abbas Araqchi, Iran’s foreign minister, today, Friday, 10 Bahman, at a joint press conference with Hakan Fidan, Turkey’s foreign minister, in Istanbul, expressed his pleasure at being in Turkey and meeting and holding talks with his Turkish counterpart, stating: Turkey and Iran have been neighbors and friends to one another in both easy and difficult times. The history of relations between the two countries over successive centuries has always been brotherly and friendly.

Referring to recent developments, particularly during the military aggression of the Zionist regime against the Iranian nation, as well as the incidents in January that were directed from outside the country by Israeli agents, he continued: On behalf of the Islamic Republic of Iran, I would like to express my gratitude and appreciation for the responsible positions taken by the Turkish president, the foreign minister, and other Turkish officials. I also thank Mr. Fidan for offering condolences to the Iranian nation over the victims of this terrorist tragedy in January. We are ready to enter negotiations if these negotiations are conducted from an equal position, based on mutual interests and with mutual respect. If negotiations are held in a fair and just manner, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate in these talks and negotiations.

Regional developments are moving along a dangerous path

Araqchi added: The two countries share the view that regional developments, due to the illegitimate interventions of certain extra-regional powers, are moving along a dangerous path. The Israeli regime, through numerous malicious plots, seeks to drag others into war, weaken and fragment regional countries, and continue its expansionism and excessive ambitions.

The head of Iran’s diplomatic apparatus continued: There is a shared understanding in the region that the domination-seeking and warmongering of the Zionist regime knows no bounds and views all regional nations as objects of its greed. This danger is real and tangible and is well understood by all countries in the region.

Araqchi emphasized: To confront these shared threats, which are unfortunately carried out with unlimited support from the US government and some other Western governments, Islamic countries and regional states must act in coordination. Iran welcomes any initiative that contributes to preserving peace and stability in the region.

Iran welcomes any initiative that preserves peace and stability in the region

Referring to his meeting with Hakan Fidan, Araqchi said: We discussed the dangers of any new tensions and their destructive impact on the security and stability of the entire region. We believe that the security of each country in the region is inseparable from the security of the whole region, and insecurity and war would mean war across the entire region. We welcome any initiative that helps preserve peace and stability in the region, reduce tensions, and neutralize the malicious plots of the Zionist regime.

He continued: The Islamic Republic of Iran has always adopted a responsible position regarding the use of diplomacy to secure Iran’s national interests and safeguard regional peace and stability. We will in no way accept dictates or impositions. Past experiences demonstrate the lack of sincerity and goodwill on the part of the United States in negotiations.

Iran is ready to participate in any meaningful, logical, and fair diplomatic process

Araqchi stated: Nevertheless, Iran is ready to participate in any diplomatic process that is meaningful, logical, and fair, and in which our legitimate and lawful interests and concerns are taken into account. The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to re-enter nuclear negotiations. Iran has never sought nuclear weapons, and such weapons have no place in our security calculations. We have been and remain ready to build confidence regarding the peaceful nature of our nuclear program.

Araqchi said: We are ready to enter negotiations if these negotiations are conducted from an equal position, based on mutual interests and with mutual respect. If negotiations are held in a fair and just manner, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to participate in these talks and negotiations.

Tehran welcomes dialogue among regional countries to reduce tensions

The head of Iran’s diplomatic apparatus stated: We welcome the Turkish government’s approach to regional ownership, support regional dialogues aimed at consolidating peace and stability, and are ready to participate in any dialogue among regional countries intended to create peace, reduce tensions, and strengthen regional stability.

He continued: Together with my dear friend Mr. Fidan, we discussed issues related to Gaza, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, and other regional challenges. As he also noted, in Syria we seek the preservation of territorial integrity, an end to the aggressions of the Zionist regime, stability, and the formation of a government based on citizens’ votes and the participation of all segments of society. Ultimately, we seek Syria’s stability and unity and view this as aligned with regional stability.

Iran stresses respect for the will of the Iraqi people and national dialogue in Lebanon

Araqchi stated: In Iraq, we believe that the will of the Iraqi people as expressed in the recent elections must be respected. We congratulate the Iraqi people on holding fair elections with high public participation and reject any coercive intervention that undermines the national sovereignty of this country.

Referring to developments in Lebanon, he said: In Lebanon, we emphasize the necessity of national dialogue among all sects and groups. Decisions regarding Lebanon’s national security strategic doctrine must be made by the Lebanese people, Lebanese groups, and Lebanese sects themselves, and we support the outcome of such dialogues.

Araqchi stated: In Palestine and Gaza, ending the genocide of Palestinians, prosecuting and punishing criminals, is a demand of the international community, and accelerating the delivery of humanitarian aid to the people of Gaza is essential. We appreciate the efforts made by the Turkish government for peace in Gaza.

He continued: I also sincerely thank and appreciate the constructive role of our brothers in Turkey, especially His Excellency President Erdogan and His Excellency Foreign Minister Fidan, and we support and are interested in cooperating with any participation by the Turkish government aimed at helping establish peace and stability in the region.

The head of Iran’s diplomatic apparatus added: We also discussed bilateral issues and the expansion of economic cooperation and the removal of existing challenges, which I will not go into detail due to time constraints, but both sides have a serious determination to expand their economic cooperation.

In closing, Iran’s foreign minister said: Once again, I thank and appreciate the recent positions of Turkish officials, political figures, members of parliament, parties, thinkers, elites, media, and all segments of the noble Turkish nation in support of the Islamic Republic of Iran against the plots of the Zionist regime.

Iran and Turkey share common interests and concerns in the region

At the beginning of the Q&A session, Seyed Abbas Araqchi said: My visit was planned in advance and was in response to Mr. Hakan Fidan’s visit to Iran last November. Turkey and Iran maintain continuous consultations. We share common interests and concerns in bilateral relations as well as regional issues, and for this reason we consult regularly and maintain frequent exchanges.

The foreign minister stated: Over the past week, we spoke on the phone almost every night. We greatly value the views of our friends in Turkey and sincerely appreciate their proposals to help advance diplomacy under the current complex conditions. If necessary, we will certainly cooperate. Turkey is our friend and our neighbor, and neighbors are our priority.

We have not yet planned a meeting with the Americans

Araqchi continued, responding to a journalist’s question: We have not yet planned a meeting with the Americans. As I said, we are ready for fair and just negotiations. The prerequisites for such negotiations must first be established, including the format, location, and subject matter of the talks.

He added: Today, I had very good discussions with Mr. Fidan on this matter, and we will continue these consultations with our regional friends. I hope we can soon reach a clear framework that ensures dignified negotiations.

The results of negotiations are determined at the negotiating table, not before negotiations

Emphasizing the distinction between negotiation and dictation, the head of Iran’s diplomatic apparatus said: The results of negotiations are determined at the negotiating table, not before negotiations. If one side seeks to impose its demands in advance, that is no longer negotiation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran will never enter such talks. Negotiations conducted under threats are not negotiations, and we will not engage in them.

Iran’s defensive capabilities and missiles will never be subject to negotiations

The foreign minister continued: I must state decisively that Iran’s defensive capabilities and its missiles will never be the subject of any negotiations. No country, I believe, is willing to compromise on its security and defense with another country. The security of the Iranian people is in no way related to anyone else, and we will maintain and expand our defensive capabilities to whatever extent is necessary to defend the country.

Another US attack on Iran would go beyond the scope of a bilateral war

Responding to another question, Araqchi said: Regarding US threats, we have said this many times, and I will repeat it once again: Just as the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready for negotiations, it is also ready for war. We are even more prepared than before the 12-day war, and just as we responded forcefully to the aggressors at that time, it will be the same this time.

He added: This time, due to the direct involvement of the United States, I believe the conditions would differ significantly from the previous war and, unfortunately, could go beyond the scope of a bilateral conflict. I hope rationality prevails and those seeking to drag the region into an all-out war fail in their objectives.

If the IRGC had not fought ISIS, Europeans would have had to confront terrorism in their own streets

Regarding the European Union’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, the foreign minister said: I can only express regret over their serious strategic and calculative mistakes. Unfortunately, the European Union is a declining entity that has lost its role in international relations and does not even properly understand its own interests.

He continued: If the IRGC had not fought ISIS terrorism and other forms of terrorism, Europeans would have had to confront terrorism in their own streets. This is an act of ingratitude toward those who, with their blood and sacrifice, saved our region and even the world from a dangerous terrorist group. The European Union has made a mistake, and I am certain they will soon realize it. I advise the EU to return to rationality instead of such emotional actions.

The US government has repeatedly requested negotiations through intermediaries

In response to another question regarding Iran–US negotiations, Araqchi said: The US government has repeatedly requested negotiations through various intermediaries and continues to repeat this request. The Islamic Republic of Iran has no problem with negotiations, but negotiations cannot take place under threats. They must abandon their threats and change their approach toward fair and just negotiations, as Mr. Trump himself stated in his post.

He added: If they are ready for such negotiations and abandon threats, the Islamic Republic of Iran has never abandoned diplomacy and will not do so.

Americans were forced to combine threats with requests for negotiations

Responding to a question about contradictory US positions on negotiations, the foreign minister said: The contradiction in American positions is completely evident. A few points are clear: Military attack is not an option. The Americans tried military attack once in the recent past and failed to achieve any of their objectives. That is why they were forced once again to resort simultaneously to threats and requests for negotiations.

He concluded: If they repeat a failed experience any number of times, they will reach the same outcome and fail to achieve any of their objectives.