Tehran has stated unequivocally that the lifting of sanctions is a non-negotiable condition for any future negotiations with Western powers. This firm stance was reiterated by Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman, Ismail Baghaei, during a press briefing this week.
Baghaei addressed recent statements made by former U.S. President Donald Trump regarding America’s direct role in actions against Iran, asserting that Tehran will use these statements as a “clear admission of committing an international crime” and will register them as a formal document with the United Nations. He indicated that Iran is exploring all available avenues to pursue legal action against the United States in response.
Regarding an upcoming legal meeting concerning alleged aggression against Iran, Baghaei stated that the discussions would center on what he described as American and Zionist attacks on Iran’s nuclear program, as well as other related issues. He emphasized the importance of the Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Rafael Grossi, refraining from political statements and confining his remarks on Iran’s nuclear activities to his official mandate.
On the topic of cooperation with the IAEA, Baghaei noted that agency inspectors had visited several nuclear sites last week, including the Tehran Research Reactor.
Addressing France’s expressed desire for negotiations with Iran, Baghaei stated that merely expressing a desire is insufficient. “The party wishing to negotiate must demonstrate its seriousness,” he said. He added that the Iranian nuclear program would likely be a topic of discussion at the upcoming Board of Governors meeting, suggesting that European nations might take action in connection with their activities at the Security Council.
In response to comments concerning Iran’s demand for sanctions relief, Baghaei asserted, “The lifting of sanctions is a legitimate demand of Iran and not a favor granted by America… A right has been violated over the past decades, and sanctions are a crime against humanity; this is clear.” He reiterated that sanctions relief is a prerequisite for any negotiations with the West, stating, “We have always said that in exchange for confidence-building measures regarding the nuclear program, the imposed sanctions must be lifted. There is no need to raise this directly or through other channels.”
Baghaei stressed the need for tangible demonstrations of goodwill from European nations, emphasizing that negotiations cannot be initiated through mere rhetoric.
