According to KhabarOnline, an Iranian News Agency, Araghchi and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper spoke by phone on Friday, December 19, exchanging views on a range of bilateral and international issues. According to official sources, the discussion included consular matters and underscored the importance of continued consultations at different levels to strengthen mutual understanding and address issues of interest to both sides.
During the call, Araghchi expressed concern over what he described as the “irresponsible approach” of three European countries toward Iran’s nuclear file. He reiterated Iran’s long-standing position that it has never rejected negotiations grounded in respect for its legal rights and legitimate national interests.
At the same time, he emphasized that negotiations cannot be equated with the imposition of unilateral demands. He stated: “Iran has never rejected dialogue based on respect for its legal rights and legitimate interests, but it does not accept negotiations that amount to one-sided imposition.”
These remarks come amid recent moves by the United Kingdom, France, and Germany to invoke the so-called “snapback” mechanism and restore previously lifted UN sanctions—an action that Iran, along with Russia and China, has described as invalid and without legal basis.
For her part, the UK foreign secretary reaffirmed London’s position that diplomacy remains essential in addressing issues related to Iran’s nuclear program, emphasizing dialogue as the preferred path forward.
Araghchi and Cooper had previously met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. The Iranian foreign minister also held a separate phone conversation on the same day with his Cypriot counterpart, reflecting Tehran’s continued efforts to keep diplomatic channels open amid heightened regional and international tensions.
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