Iran Ready for Nuclear Negotiations with EU Troika under Respectful Terms: Araqchi

In a post on his X account, Foreign Minister Araqchi stated, "The ball is in the EU/E3 court. Willing to negotiate based on our national interest & our inalienable rights, but NOT ready to negotiate under pressure and intimidation."

This declaration followed his "important and straightforward" discussions with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi in Tehran.

Araqchi, a key figure in the 2015 nuclear negotiations that led to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), reaffirmed Iran's commitment to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and its ongoing cooperation with the IAEA. He emphasized that "differences can be resolved through cooperation and dialogue" and noted that Iran has consistently remained at the negotiating table regarding its peaceful nuclear program.

Grossi's visit to Tehran, which began on Wednesday, included meetings with top Iranian nuclear and political officials. This trip continues the interactions between Iran and the IAEA, following a joint statement issued during Grossi's visit to Tehran on March 4, 2023.

The statement highlighted that positive bilateral engagements could pave the way for broader agreements among state parties and that interactions would be conducted in a spirit of collaboration, respecting the competencies of the IAEA and Iran's rights under the comprehensive safeguards agreement.

During his visit, Grossi also met with Mohammad Eslami, head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), and attended a joint press conference. He is scheduled to meet with President Masoud Pezeshkian later in the day.

The JCPOA was a multilateral international agreement signed between Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council plus Germany after 21 months of negotiations in 2015. The deal required Iran to scale back some of its nuclear activities in return for the lifting of cruel sanctions imposed on the country, especially those by the United States.

However, then US president Donald Trump, who recently won the US presidential election again, pulled Washington out of the UNSC-endorsed agreement in May 2018, imposing severe economic sanctions against Tehran while Iran was adhering to its commitments under the deal and even continued to do so for a year after the US withdrawal.

Despite Washington’s deceitful behavior, Iran continued to abide by the agreement in full for over a year between 2018 and 2019, as a demonstration of goodwill and to provide the US with a ramp.

Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei said on Wednesday that Tehran has remained committed to all its promises as per the JCPOA and expects the IAEA to pursue an “independent and professional” approach with no political pressure and considerations.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran, as a responsible country which is committed to the NPT (Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty), and pursues a peaceful nuclear program, expects the Agency to have an independent, professional approach, free from political pressures and considerations, in relation to Iran,” Baqaei told IRNA.

He added that Iran’s hosting of the IAEA chief clearly shows the Islamic Republic’s stance on the continuation of cooperation with the agency based on commitments and duties enshrined in international regulations and conventions.

The Iranian spokesperson emphasized, “At the same time, we expect the agency to continue its technical activities and act within the framework of its defined tasks, away from political atmospheres and regardless of the pressures that some member states of the Agency may impose.”