Iran’s President Blames US for Disrupting Process of Negotiations
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani underlined Tehran’s policy of negotiation with entire world, adding the US claims to be advocate of talks with Iran but Trump administration has destroyed bridges.
Addressing a cabinet meeting in Tehran on Wednesday, President Rouhani referred to the latest summit of the Caspian Sea littoral states in Kazakhstan, and said Iran is negotiating with entire world.
“In the latest visit to Kazakhstan, we had good negotiations with our neighboring countries and, at the same time, we are negotiating with Europe and elsewhere in Asia.”
He also said that it was the Americans themselves who disrupted the process of negotiations, according to President official website.
Addressing Americans, Rouhani said, “If you wanted to pass through the bridge, why did you destroy it? If you wanted us to meet, why did you destroy the bridge? You yourself did it. If you want to prove it, you have to rebuild the bridge. Once you rebuild the bridge, meetings will automatically and naturally happen.”
As regards Talks in Kazakhstan, he said, “It’s been over 20 years that negotiations on Caspian Sea issues are running between its five littoral countries. We resolved a part of the issues and a part is still remaining. In some issues, the countries on the north part of the sea could reach an agreement.”
He added, “In the south side of the sea, there are still issues between Turkmenistan, Iran and Azerbaijan. We had good agreements with Azerbaijan in this regard, some of which are being implemented, but a part of these issues has not been resolved yet.”
Stressing that as the result of the negotiations and agreements, we had great achievements in national security, Rouhani said, “The conspiracies of the Americans and even NATO was to be present in these waters and deploy their soldiers, frigates, helicopters and bases on the coasts of Caspian Sea. In this agreement, the five countries agreed to ban the presence of foreign vessels in Caspian Sea.”
“After 20 some years of negotiation, only 30 per cent of the Caspian Sea issues have been solved and negotiations still continue,” said the president, adding: “We have to continue negotiating because this is the only way. We must resolve the issues with dialogue and negotiation”.
“Military and defence power, especially in military war and defending the country, is very important and has an important role. But the defending the country won’t be possible without foreign policy, people’s support, and cultural and economic issues. Powers and capabilities of the country must exercise synergy and stand together to make it happen,” he concluded.