Iran says train of diplomacy has not derailed in Vienna talks

First, in response to a question about EU Foreign policy chief Borrell's remarks that we are not far from reaching an agreement in Vienna, and now is the time to resume talks quickly and try to prevent escalation of tensions, and US new sanctions, he said, "The US double standards policy has been clear to everyone for years. When you hear the statements of some US officials who want to compensate for the mistake of the Trump administration and be responsible while you see the illegal behavior of the Trump administration in Biden Administration's behavior, it is an indication of double standards. The US administration has caused the international community to distrust it, and for this reason we must be very careful about the interests and rights of the Iranian people."

""We are still moving in the direction of diplomacy, and this train has not derailed, despite all breach of the obligations by the United States," he said of the Vienna talks, noting," We are at this point because the United States withdrew from the JCPOA unilaterally and illegally and exerted maximum pressure, which led to a disgraceful defeat."

The spokesman added: "We hope that the American side will return to the path that results in the signing of the agreement as soon as possible. We are ready to reach a good and strong agreement."

Khatibzadeh elsewhere referred to the Greek oil tankers: "The judicial process of Greek oil tankers is underway on the spot. The Greek government, through lawyers, has tried to prepare the documents for the release of the ships. We advised the Greek government to use its legal capacity and I am sure it will follow the legal and judicial path. I hope that in practice we will see the release of Iranian oil cargo, and the way forward will be to maintain bilateral relations and be safe from the intervention of a third factor."

The spokesman also announced that Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to pay a visit Tehran over the next days.

Iran's spokesman for the Foreign Ministry regarding Türkiye's extensive operations in northern Syria and Iraq: "The sporadic allegations made by the media are not worth answering. Iran- Türkiye relations are good, multi-layered and strategic, but the Syrian case is one of the disputed cases that we tried to resolve as two actors in processes such as the Astana process."

"At the recent Astana meeting, we said that war is by no means the solution and that Syria's territorial integrity must be preserved, and we made this clear to our friends in Türkiye," the official highlighted.

The spokesman on US sanctions against Syria also has said that the fact that US sanctions are clear economic terrorism against nations is a common denominator of those who focus on sanctions. The United States and its allies in the region and outside the region, through mercenaries, tried to settle the terrorists in Syria and overthrow the Syrian central government, which was defeated by the resistance of the Syrian people.

The senior Iranian diplomat noted: "We have always condemned and said that this is a domino that will surely affect the sponsors of these sanctions and attacks."

The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also referred to the most important measures of the diplomatic apparatus in the past year: "The Ministry of Foreign Affairs tried to get sanctions lifted. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs did not link further tasks to the nuclear talks. The past year has seen the most shuttle diplomacy with neighbors, and Iran's trade relations with neighbors have quadrupled in some areas. In the field of Iranian affairs, after several years, the Supreme Council of Iranians was formed."

Khatibzadeh also said about the US President's visit to the region: "We also heard the news you mentioned." Of course, I do not judge what is happening, but the fake regime in Occupied Territories is trying to use anything for its sinister and anti-stability goals and intentions. Of course, officials in Washington and some countries in the region must be careful not to follow the path that this regime is planning, and we are currently waiting to see what will happen in the future."

The spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs also spoke about Iraq's debt and Iran's blocked money: "There is a recurring pattern of turning any good news into something exceptional and adding to the bitterness and skepticism. Despite all the pressure, we can cash our debts from various sources. In this case, yes, the debt of the Iraqi Ministry of Electricity to the Ministry of Energy of Iran has been received through TBI Bank, and the Central Bank will explain it in details, and I thank the Iraqi government in this regard."

Regarding IAEA Director-General Rafael Grossi's remarks, he said: "Our advice has always been for him to comment within the framework of his technical duties. What is being issued as a joint statement on March 5 is that if the agency is still has question, the way is negotiations, not the actions in the media. The Vienna route has been on agenda during this period and this is the route that has yield results during this period."

Khatibzadeh regarding Iran's proposals to the United States before the resolution was issued, noted: "Before the summit of IAEA's Board of Governors and the issuance of the resolution, Iran again tried to pave the way for an agreement. All this time, it has been Iran's initiative that, despite the obstructions and the prolongation and waste of energy that the United States has been behind, we tried to move the negotiation forward."

"Prior to the meeting of the Board of Governors, Iran's initiative was conveyed to the other side through Josep Borrell, and we even conveyed this initiative and proposal of Iran through two other foreign ministers for the first time, and a time frame was drawn up, but the United States decided again to prolong the talks and delayed the agreement, and with this misconception and illusion that it use a as a leverage, Washington raised it in the Board of Governors, which, of course, was Iran's response was decisive and proportionate. Now the path is the same path of diplomacy. For a while, they went the wrong way and had a miscalculation, and they faced Iran's reactions. We are following the path through Borrell."

He added: "If the United States agrees, based on its commitments under the JCPOA, it should lift all sanctions and not try in vain to maintain maximum pressure components. Based on Iran's initiative, we can finalize the agreement."

The spokesman on why Iran gives so much time to the United States? noted, "The United States has used this tool of sanctions in the international system as much as possible, and some of its sanctions are a joke," he said, stating, "America's behavior is important in returning to its commitments. The more sanctions the United States adds, the harder it gets. Elements within the United States and the US administration and the White House are working to preserve Trump's legacy. They certainly cannot preserve Trump's legacy and call for negotiations."
Addressing the International Atomic Energy Agency, Saeed Khatibzadeh said that if there were any questions or ambiguities, the right path should be followed.

International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi told Al-Arabiya that talks with Iran to revive the nuclear deal have reached a deadlock.
Reiterating his recent claims, he said that the International Atomic Energy Agency was trying to clarify some facts in Iran and IAEA had not received any response from Tehran regarding the technical questions it had raised.

"Grossi should comment within the framework of his technical duties," Saeed Khatibzadeh told in his weekly news conference in response to a question from Iran Press.
He added that the joint statement of Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency was written and followed up on March 5, and that if IAEA still has ambiguities and questions, this way is not appropriate.
"Iran tried to proceed the negotiations and conveyed the initiative to the United States through two foreign ministers and set a roadmap and timeline," he said, referring to the initiative presented by Iran.
"If the United States lift all sanctions and acts quickly according to Iran’s initiative, the agreement will be finalized soon," he concluded.