TEHRAN - Iran is ready to accept certain limitations on its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions, but deems it "nonnegotiable" to end its uranium enrichment entirely, a senior Iranian diplomat said recently.
"Iran can be flexible on the capacities and limits of enrichment, but cannot agree to stop enrichment under any circumstance because it's essential, and we need to rely on ourselves, not on empty promises," Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi told Japan's Kyodo News in a Saturday interview.
On the possibility of the resumption of Iran-US nuclear talks, the official said, "Iran is ready for talks with the United States, but the United States should first make it clear whether it is interested in win-win dialogue or the imposition of its will.
On June 13, two days prior to the sixth round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the United States, Israel launched major airstrikes on several areas in Iran, including nuclear and military sites, killing senior commanders, nuclear scientists and many civilians. Iran responded with multiple waves of missile and drone attacks on Israel.
On June 22, US forces bombed the three Iranian nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan. In retaliation, Iran struck the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
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Following the 12-day war, a ceasefire between Iran and Israel was achieved on June 24.
In recent days, Washington has repeatedly demanded that Iran completely cease uranium enrichment, a request firmly rejected by Tehran.
Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian on Monday warned against any potential US action to pursue hegemonic objectives in the South Caucasus region under the guise of making investments and ensuring peace.
Pezeshkian made the remarks in his phone call with Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, according to a statement released by the Iranian Presidency.
He said Iran welcomes the peace agreement signed Friday in Washington between its northern neighbors, Azerbaijan and Armenia, as well as any agreement that will promote peace especially among regional countries.
However, he cautioned that the agreement should be assured as one of peace and development, not a tool for foreign countries to achieve their hegemonic objectives through interference.
Regarding the Iran-Armenia relationship, Pezeshkian said it is "strategic, constructive," and "based on the principle of good neighborliness and mutual respect for both countries' territorial integrity."
For his part, Pashinyan elaborated on the recently-signed agreement, and said Armenia will not sign any agreement without first completely ensuring that Iran's interests, considerations and sensitivities will be observed under it, according to the statement.
Armenia attaches special and outstanding status to its strategic ties and cooperation with Iran, Pashinyan said, adding that Armenia will take all its important decisions and actions following bilateral consultations and coordination.
Armenia and Azerbaijan, at loggerheads over the mountainous Nagorno-Karabakh region since 1988, have been having peace talks since 1994, when a ceasefire was agreed on, despite sporadic clashes since then.
On Friday, the leaders of the two countries witnessed the initialing of a peace agreement at the White House, ending their decades-long border conflict, with further steps to be taken to eventually sign and ratify the agreement.
