Iran has been able to show its regional and international clout to the world through national unity, Ramin Mehmanparast said on Friday.
“Although the enemies attempted to isolate Iran by mounting diplomatic and economic pressures, their wishes did not come true and today, the Islamic Republic of Iran has turned into a center for resolving regional issues and the countries in the region have admitted that regional issues cannot be resolved without Iran,” he added.
The official noted that the Islamic Republic has managed to break major grounds in various areas in the past year, despite “unjust” sanctions imposed on it by the US and its European allies.
“Today, many countries that, under the West’s negative media propaganda, did not have a positive opinion about Iran, have acknowledged our country’s extensive achievements and progress,” he pointed out.
Echoing earlier comments by Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, Mehmanparast ruled out direct negotiations between Tehran and Washington in the absence of a real change of policy on the part of the United States.
“As long as the US refuses to change its behavior towards Iran, mere offer of negotiations without practical guarantees or accompanied with threats or any act of animosity against our nation is meaningless,” he stressed.
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with US and the European Union using this pretext to impose several rounds of illegal sanctions against Tehran.
The Islamic Republic refutes the allegation, maintaining that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.
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