If Israeli attacks stop, ‘our responses will also stop’: Iran
Speaking at a news conference in Tehran, Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says if Israeli attacks on his country stop, “our responses will also stop”.
Araghchi’s comment came before diplomats in Tehran, his first public appearance since the Israeli strikes began on Friday. “If the aggression stops, our responses will also stop,” Araghchi said.
There was no immediate reaction from Israel, which continued with strikes on Sunday across Iran.
Araghchi also said the US needs to condemn the Israeli attacks on Iran’s nuclear facilities.
Iran does not believe the US claim of not being involved in Israel’s attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, he added. He said Israel “crossed a new red line” by targeting Iran’s nuclear sites in strikes that began on Friday.
“The Zionist regime crossed a new red line in international law, and it was attacking nuclear facilities.”
Yeah that will never happen...
Iran’s attacks on Israel based on ‘self defence’
Iran does not want its conflict with Israel to expand to neighbouring countries unless the situation is forced, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says. Iran’s military response against Israel has been based on self-defence, he added.
Israel unleashed air raids across Iran for a third day on Sunday and threatened even greater force as some Iranian missiles evaded Israeli air defences to destroy buildings in the heart of the country.
Israel not willing to see US reach nuclear deal with Iran: Araghchi
Araghchi has reaffirmed the country’s stance on nuclear weapons, saying it is “our firm conviction not to possess a nuclear weapon”. “Yet those who are willing to deprive Iran of our right to possess the nuclear programme for peaceful purposes, they have no right to do so,” he added.
Araghchi said in the now-cancelled sixth round of negotiations with the US that was scheduled for today, Iran was “prepared to provide the necessary assurances to the Americans”.
“[In] the previous round of talks, the Americans presented a number of proposals, which were not totally acceptable to us. We presented our response and our viewpoints, and we were supposed to present a counterproposal. Our proposal could have opened doors for an all-out agreement with the Americans,” he said.
According to Araghchi, Israel opposes diplomatic progress between Iran and the US.
“This is a crystal-clear matter. The Zionist entity is not willing to see us reaching an agreement or a diplomatic solution with the United States,” he added.
Right about the last part, the whole enriching Uranium up to 60% is rather overkill for just peaceful purposes.
Again China would be a good negotiating party, Iran could certainly use Thorium Salt reactor technology the Chinese are developing. Safer and no need for water cooling. As well as no nuclear bomb potential.
Yet with Israel staying a huge threat to Iran with US backing, the country is only driven more towards nuclear proliferation. It's the only thing that gives the West pause even though no country would ever commit suicide by nuke.
