Iran’s foreign minister in Geneva ‘to listen’, not negotiate
Abbas Araghchi is in Geneva for a meeting with his counterparts from France, Germany and the United Kingdom, as Israel continues its strikes across the country. Iranians are saying that, first, they’re not going to negotiate while those strikes continue, and that, second, they’re going to strike back and continue with their retaliatory measures.
Araghchi has said, first of all, he is there to listen to what the Europeans have to say – he is not there for negotiations as long as the strikes continue. But at the same time, the Iranians are trying to send out a message that they’re not closing the door to the possibility of diplomacy, and that’s the fundamental reason for Araghchi being in Geneva.
He’s said Iran’s missile programme is not going to be negotiable while we’re being targeted on a daily basis. While Iran is trying to keep the door open to diplomacy, the chance for a diplomatic trajectory to get a tangible achievement looks really low from an Iranian perspective.
You have to keep in mind that Iran was already in the middle of a diplomatic conversation with the Americans, with the sixth round of talks scheduled before they were disrupted by the Israeli strikes.
Iran defending itself against ‘barbaric’ aggression: Foreign minister
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has just spoken at the United Nations in Geneva. Here is a summary of what he said:
- Israel has launched an unprovoked aggression on Iran, in a stark violation of Article 2, paragraph four of the UN Charter.
- This is an unjust war imposed on my people since early hours of Friday, June 13, when Israel perpetrated a mix of unlawful and criminal operations against off-duty military personnel, university professors and ordinary people.
- My fellow Iranians have been killed and injured following Israel’s surprise armed attacks …operations on residential areas, public infrastructures, hospitals, health centres … the foreign ministry … nuclear facilities have also been targeted.
- Israel’s attacks on nuclear facilities are grave war crimes, given also the danger of an environmental and health catastrophe as a result of radiological leakage.
- We were attacked in the middle of an ongoing diplomatic process.
- We were supposed to meet Americans on June 15 to craft a very promising agreement for a peaceful resolution of the issues fabricated over our peaceful nuclear program.
- It was a betrayal of diplomacy and an unprecedented blow to the foundation of international law and the UN system.
- We need action now. Otherwise, the whole UN-based international law system would corrode badly.
- This is a call from someone who has allocated his whole life to dialogue and diplomacy, but who is also a veteran of an imposed war by the [former President of Iraq] Saddam [Hussein’s] regime and knows how to defend his beloved motherland.
Geneva talks should demand complete rollback of Iran nuclear programme: Israeli envoy
Israel’s ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva says he expects European foreign ministers to demand a complete rollback of Iran’s nuclear programme during their meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.
Daniel Meron, was commenting on the talks between Araghchi and the foreign ministers of Germany, France and the UK, as well as EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, taking place today in Geneva.
Araghchi has said he is not prepared to hold negotiations with any party while Israel strikes his country, and that Iran’s missile programme is non-negotiable.
