Iran FM expresses views on direct talks with US in Vienna

Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian has said there have not been any direct talks with Washington in Vienna talks while saying that if the prospect of a good agreement looms, Iran will not ignore direct negotiations.

"If we reach a stage in the negotiation process where a good agreement is needed to have a dialogue with the United States, we will not ignore it," Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said on the final day of the Conference on Iran and Neighbors which ended in Tehran on Monday afternoon.

"The United States sends messages calling for direct talks with us. Our talks with the United States are taking place through Mora and one or two JCPOA members in Vienna," the top diplomat added.

"So far, the behavior of the three European countries has been like that when it comes to sanctions, they refer them to the United States. When it comes to nuclear issues, they say that is a matter that worries them," he added on the approach of the E3 during the ongoing talks in Vienna.

"Our criticism of the three European countries is that they have not taken any forward-looking and constructive initiatives, but they have tried to play a constructive role in the negotiations in recent weeks. Even today, France does not play the role of a bad cop. China and Russia are trying to play a constructive role in the negotiations and these two countries are active in conveying the issues," the top diplomat added.

As regards Yemen, the minister said that "These days, something is happening between Yemen and one of the neighbors. What is between Yemen and some of its neighbors and countries participating in military operations is a Yemeni issue. Iran has presented a four-faceted political plan on different occasions since the beginning of the Yemeni crisis and has called for following it. We are concerned about the escalation of the war and call on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to take a political and constructive approach to end the humanitarian blockade, end the war and accept the Yemeni-Yemeni talks as the continuation of the ongoing situation is not in the interest of the region."

He went on to talks about talks with Saudi Arabia and said, "We have kept the door open for Saudi Arabia. Whenever Saudi Arabia decides to return its diplomatic relations with Iran to a normal level, we welcome the reopening of embassies and the return of relations to normal, and even the expansion of relations with Saudi Arabia. We are pleased that three of our diplomats were stationed in Jeddah a few days ago. Saudi Arabia must now decide when to open the embassies of the two countries. We welcome a new round of talks, and we would also like to point out that ... returning relations to normal level requires political decision-making as a necessity. We in the new government have decided that Saudi Arabia can take the necessary steps to restore relations with Iran whenever it reaches a conclusion."

News ID 193526

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