Iran pursuing result-oriented talks to secure people’s rights, interests: FM Amir-Abdollahian

Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a meeting with a group of American researchers, academics, and senior representatives of think tanks on Friday night on the sidelines of the 76th Session of the UN General Assembly.

“Despite the US lack of commitment to the JCPOA (the nuclear deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action), which has continued since the administration of [former US president Barack] Obama, coupled with Europe’s inaction, the Islamic Republic of Iran remains committed to diplomacy based on its principles and is ready for result-oriented talks that serve the interests and [protects] rights of the Iranian people,” the top Iranian diplomat said.

The US, under former president Donald Trump, unilaterally withdrew from the deal and reinstated crippling sanctions on the Islamic Republic, although the country had been fully compliant with the deal.

In early April, Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA began to hold talks in Vienna, Austria, after the Joe Biden administration voiced willingness to rejoin the nuclear agreement and remove the draconian sanctions his predecessor had slapped on the Islamic Republic.

Since the beginning of the Vienna talks, Tehran has argued that the US—as the first party that violated the JCPOA—needs to take the first step by returning to full compliance with the agreement. Tehran also says it will resume all of its nuclear commitments under the deal only after the US removes all the sanctions in practice.

Iran says it is high time for the United States as the party that unilaterally abandoned the JCPOA to wake up to a new reality.

In a tweet on Friday, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh once again reiterated Tehran’s resolve to engage in only result-oriented talks on ways to revive the JCPOA, saying it is high time for the United States, which unilaterally abandoned the agreement, "to wake up to new reality."

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian foreign minister reaffirmed the country’s determination to pursue a foreign policy based on prioritizing ties with its neighbors and Asian countries.

He elaborated on the Islamic Republic’s positions on regional issues, including the situation in Afghanistan, Syria, Yemen, Bahrain, and other regions.

Amir-Abdollahian said, “Although the new [Iranian] government has given priority to the development of relations with its neighbors and Asian countries, but at the same time it will maintain a balance in its foreign policy."

Pointing to the ongoing developments in Afghanistan, Amir-Abdollahian reiterated Iran's principled policy on helping the establishment of an inclusive government in the crisis-hit country and preventing the spread of terrorist activities in the region.