US 'contradictory, excessive stances' serious obstacle to diplomacy: Iran FM
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says the United States' "contradictory and excessive stances" are a serious obstacle to the fruition of diplomatic processes.
The top diplomat made the remarks in Tehran on Monday, meeting with Pakistan's visiting Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, who had traveled to Tehran for consultations with Iranian officials.
Araghchi's comments apparently reflected Washington's repeated instances of trying to force Iran to subject its right to peaceful nuclear energy and defensive capabilities to negotiation, while insisting on retaining its own economic, political, and military pressure on Tehran.
The official cited previous instances of the US breaching its commitments vis-à-vis Iran, a remark referencing Washington's withdrawal from a 2015 nuclear agreement with Iran and its joining the Israeli regime during the duo's latest bouts of unprovoked aggression targeting the Islamic Republic.
Amid such breaches and despite deep mistrust towards the US administration, the Islamic Republic entered the diplomatic process to end the cycle arising out of the unprovoked aggression and out of a sense of responsibility, he noted.
He added that while Iran remains serious about diplomacy, it would spare no effort to strengthen its preparedness to defend the country’s security and national interests.
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Pointing to the far-reaching consequences of the American-Israeli aggression against Iran for the region and the world, the foreign minister stressed that the international community had to hold the aggressors accountable.
The international community, he added, also had to punish the aggressors for their atrocities, including killing 170 innocent students and teachers in the city of Minab in southern Iran during the initial stages of their latest aggression.
For his part, the Pakistani official referred to his "constructive and useful" talks held earlier with Mohammad-Baqer Qalibar, speaker of the Iranian Parliament, and his Iranian counterpart, stressing the Pakistani government’s strong commitment to further expanding comprehensive ties with Iran.
Naqvi also expressed hope that Pakistan’s diplomatic efforts could help promote peace and stability in the region.
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