Steps towards agreement are take in proper path: FM

Tehran, IRNA – Iran’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said in a phone conversation with the EU foreign policy chief on Friday that the steps taken to reach an agreement to revive the 2015 nuclear deal were in the right direction. Amirabdollahian thanked Josep Borrell’s constructive efforts to help all parties return to compliance with the nuclear deal and said that the steps to reach an agreement were on the right path, despite some conflicting media statements from the American side. Iran welcomed cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) on technical issues in this regard, the foreign minister noted. On the recent developments in Iran, the Iranian top diplomat said that the death of the 22-year-old woman, Mahsa Amini, in police custody is unfortunate for us all. A precise, scientific forensic report was presented by a considerable number of specialist physicians and experts, the foreign minister said, noting that legal measures were also taken to address the issue. However, Amirabdollahian said, this was only a pretext for the Western officials. The question is what the West has done about hundreds of murders of women and children in Canada and the United States, especially by the police, he asked. He also condemned the double standard based on which the most violent confrontation with riots is considered good and proper, but the same approach is considered a crack-down about Iran. Peaceful demonstration is different from a riot, killing, arson, and terrorist acts, Amirabdollahian added. He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran enjoyed strong popular backing and an efficient democracy and that Iran is not a land for velvet coups and color revolutions but a stable and sustainable security hub. The foreign ministry advised Europeans to adopt a realistic approach regarding Iran, highlighting the role of the Islamic Republic and General Qasem Soleimani in countering ISIS. He also said that Iran had defense cooperation with Russia, but its policy regarding the war in Ukraine was based on not sending arms to the conflicting parties and putting an end to war and displacement of people. The EU foreign policy chief expressed consent over the progress made in reviving the JCPOA and highlighted the importance of cooperation between the IAEA and Iran. The agreement between Iran and the US in exchanging prisoners was a significant issue and a forward step in reaching a deal on the JCPOA, Borrell said. He said that the EU did not intend to interfere in Iran’s internal affairs, emphasizing the necessity of cooperation between Iran and the EU. Borrell also underscored Iran’s emphasis on not sending arms and drones to be used in the Ukraine war. Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish