Iran: US yet to respond to generous proposal for indirect talks

Iran says it has not yet received any response from the United States regarding indirect negotiations about Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.

US President Donald Trump announced on March 7 that he had written to Iran to call for nuclear negotiations and threaten military action. The letter was delivered to Tehran on March 12 by UAE presidential adviser Anwar Gargash.

On March 27, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Tehran’s official response to the US president’s letter had been sent through Oman.

Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran on Monday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said Iran has sent its response to Trump’s letter and is now waiting for the US decision in this regard.

“Iran’s proposal for indirect negotiations was a generous and wise proposal given the history of the issue and trends related to the nuclear talks over the past decade. We are focused on what we have proposed,” he added.

He dismissed “false” reports about the beginning of talks between Tehran and Washington.

On the sidelines of a meeting with a number of Iranian lawmakers on Sunday, Araghchi reiterated Iran’s openness to hold “indirect” talks with the United States while emphasizing that the two countries have held no direct negotiations yet.

Araghchi says no round of talks held between Iran and US

The Iranian foreign minister says no round of negotiations have been held so far between Iran and the United States.

In response to a question about the role of third parties in indirect Tehran-Washington talks, Baghaei said there are clear indications of other parties’ involvement in advancing the negotiations.

“If such a process takes shape, Oman will be the main candidate for this role. Oman is a key candidate for facilitating any indirect talks with the US,” the Iranian spokesperson noted.

Gaza developments ‘sheer Israeli crime’

The Iranian spokesman said the ongoing developments in Gaza are “sheer crime” which cannot be justified by any standard principle.

“Genocide is the most severe form of crime…Since the beginning of genocide [in Gaza], reporters have been among the main targets of the [Israeli] regime,” he emphasized.

He noted that the US, the Israeli regime and their supporters think that they can implement all their plans by the time the world is unaware of their acts.

The spokesperson said Western countries and the Israeli regime are responsible for normalizing crimes against the Palestinian people in Gaza.

Baghaei expressed hope that justice would one day prevail in the world.

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No proof Iran’s nuclear program strayed from peaceful path: Baghaei

Baghaei said claims that Iran’s nuclear program is a threat are only a conspiracy aimed at spreading Iranophobia and exerting more pressure on Tehran.

He added that Iran has been under high pressure over the past decades but no single proof has ever been presented showing any diversion in Iran’s peaceful nuclear program toward non-peaceful purposes.

The spokesman reiterated Iran’s determination to continue its peaceful activities regardless of all threats and claims.

Baghaei noted that Iran pursues a very clear stance on the nuclear issue, saying the country has never sought to develop nuclear weapons.

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