“We want negotiations but within the framework of our legitimate rights and by respecting the international rules,” Velayati told reporters in Tehran on Tuesday.
“Our people should be rest assured that we will not lose the nuclear energy capability which has been achieved by the Iranian scientists, even if the Americans and others pressure us,” he added.
Velayati underlined the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, and reminded, “All of our (nuclear) activities are supervised by the cameras of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).”
In relevant remarks on December 17, Velayati condemned the US for imposing fresh sanctions against Tehran, and said Washington needs good ties with Tehran and will remain committed to the Geneva agreement.
“The US is obliged to remain committed to the agreement since they don’t want their situation to move in some direction which is not beneficial to their interests after their failed projects in Iraq, Afghanistan, Lebanon and Syria,” Velayati, who also chairs the Strategic Studies Center of Iran's Expediency Council, told reporters in Tehran last Tuesday.
Stressing that the US needs Iran too much to be stopped by its nuclear concerns, he said, “Iran lays stress on its position for using the peaceful nuclear energy within the framework of the international treaties, including the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty), and nothing will prevent Iran since the Islamic Republic is making no illegal moves.”
Velayati accused the US officials of uttering contradictory remarks before and after the Geneva agreement, and said during the November talks in Geneva they expressed pleasure with the agreement and after that they acted against it to satisfy the Zionists and the regional reactionary regimes.
On November 24, Iran and the five permanent United Nations Security Council members sealed the six-month Joint Plan of Action to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program.
In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet of world powers agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran and continue talks with the country to settle all problems between the two sides.
Iran and the six world powers (the US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany) had an expert meeting in Vienna, Austria, on December 9. The negotiations were scheduled to continue until December 13, but the Iranian negotiators cut short the talks and returned to Iran in protest at the US breach of the Geneva agreement by blacklisting a dozen companies and individuals for evading Washington’s sanctions.
US Secretary of State John Kerry tried to soothe Tehran’s anger over Washington’s fresh sanctions in a phone call to his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif last Monday night.
Speaking to reporters after the phone conversation between the two top diplomats, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham said, “The phone call was initiated by the US secretary of state.”
Afkham, who was speaking to reporters during a weekly press conference on Tuesday, told reporters that during the phone talk "he (Kerry) was informed of Iran’s dissatisfaction with the trend of the experts' plan and the details of the implementation of the Joint Plan of Action (the Geneva agreement)”.
Last Sunday, Zarif deplored Washington's recent move, and said Tehran would show a well-assessed and goal-oriented reaction to any measure adopted by the world powers in violation of the deal.
“The Americans have taken improper measures in the last few days and we have given the appropriate response to them after considering all aspects of the issue,” Zarif said.
He stressed that Tehran is seriously pursuing the Geneva negotiations with the G5+1, “and we will, of course, show proper, well-assessed, targeted and smart reaction to any improper and unconstructive measure (of the opposite side even if it doesn’t violate the Geneva agreement)”.