Minister Arákčí announces a chance for a diplomatic solution to the nuclear conflict with the USA, despite the warning against a reaction to a possible attack. New negotiations are expected in Geneva this week.
There is still a good chance for a diplomatic solution to the dispute between Iran and the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araki thinks. However, in an interview with CBS on Sunday, he warned that if Washington launched an attack, Tehran would respond and did not rule out a strike on an American base in the Middle East. TASR refers to the AFP report.
- Iran still believes in a diplomatic solution to the dispute with the US.
- If the US attacks, Iran will retaliate in the region.
- Iran says it makes decisions about its nuclear program on its own.
- New negotiations between the US and Iran can be as early as Thursday.
- The US expects a detailed Iranian proposal for the nuclear deal.
“If the US attacks us, it will be an act of aggression and our response will be an act of self-defense. It is justified, legitimate. Our missiles cannot hit American territory. So it is clear that we have to do something else,” the Iranian minister said, mentioning an attack on an American base in the region as one possibility.
At the same time, however, he emphasized that he still believes in settling the dispute. “I believe there is still a good chance for a diplomatic solution that will be beneficial to both sides,” he said, adding that negotiators are currently working on individual elements of a possible agreement and on drafting its text. On the issue of uranium enrichment, which the US opposes, he underlined that Iran, as a sovereign state, has the right to decide on its own actions.
Arakči also indicated that a new round of negotiations with high-ranking American negotiators could take place as early as Thursday in Geneva. “I believe that when we meet, probably this Thursday again in Geneva, we will be able to work on the elements (of the agreement), prepare a good text and quickly reach an agreement,” he said.
The Axios portal, citing its sources, previously reported that US negotiators are ready for another round of talks on Friday if they receive a detailed Iranian draft of the nuclear deal in the next two days.
