- Iranians holding Ashura mourning for Imam Hussein
- Third step: Iran officially informs EU of plan to expand nuclear R&D
- Iran expands nuclear R&D program: Rouhani
- Iran goes ahead in space tech, despite US sanctions: ISA
- Resistance Front undermining Israeli regime power: Top commander
- Iran: 7 crew members of detained UK ship freed
- US addiction to sanction threaten its power: Iran’s Zarif
- Dutch role in 2007 Stuxnet attack on Iran’s nuclear site under scrutiny: Iraian FM Spox.
- Iran: ‘Sustainable Security 2019’ kicks off in Caspian Sea
- Iran’s Zarif leaves Tehran for Moscow
- Shiraz University ranked 1st in liver transplantation: Iranian health official
- Japan’s Abe to meet Iran’s president to discuss easing tension in region
- Downing of US spy drone shattered war threats against Iran: Top IRGC commander
- IAEO head reports development of first ion-therapy hospital in west of Asia
- Iranian Taekwondo team wins 2019 World Cup championship
- US sanctions failed to force Iran to buckle: Report
- Crew fixing Iran oil tanker broken down in Red Sea
- As Iranians hold nerves, US seeks to scare off trade
- Leader expresses concern about Kashmir, urges India to follow fair policy toward Muslim-majority region
- Iran saffron exports down due to smuggling, government restrictions: Exporter
- Iran FM warns US against ‘serious miscalculation’ in Persian Gulf
- Iran’s resistance policy led to release of oil tanker: MP
- Iran in reverse brain drain as top students come home in rising numbers
- Iran official calls for compensation for tanker seizure
- Iran hails N Korea for standing against ‘unilateral’ US demands
- Shia Muslims celebrate Eid Al-Ghadir
- North Korea praises Iran’s anti-US struggle
- Zarif says to meet French president Friday
- Iranian court hearing case of UK oil tanker
- Over half of Japanese voters oppose joining US-led anti-Iran coalition in Persian Gulf: Poll
- IME trade ups by 21 percent in July
- Finland backs INSTEX in defiance of US
- US anti-Iran policy in high seas harms Europeans: LA Times
- Iran, China confer on Syria
- Iran, Finland share views on Persian Gulf dialogue forum: Zarif
- Iran warns US against seizure of oil tanker
- Iraq eager to benefit from Iranian Police’s experience
- Iran planning 3rd step to reduce nuclear commitments: Spokesman
- Leader grants clemency to over 1,000 Iranian inmates
- Registration for Arbaeen Pilgrimage to begin in Iran on Friday
- Iran, Iraq agree to reopen Khosravi border crossing
- Iran deplores suicide attack at Kabul wedding hall
- Iran to hold int'l hand-woven carpets expo
- Zarif meets with Iran-Kuwait Friendship Group members
- Adrian Darya oil tanker not under any sanctions, says Iran envoy
- ‘Iran to stay in nuclear deal as long as its interests are met’
- India envoy happy with positive trend of trade with Iran
- Iran’s annual export of white meat tops 2.5m tons: Minister
- Iranian scientist discovers new state of matter
- Iran, Japan diplomats discuss bilateral ties
- Iran, Ansarullah, European representatives Yemen developments
- ‘Iran to become self-sufficient in producing aircraft engines'
- US issues seizure warrant for Iranian supertanker 'Grace 1'
- Neanderthal tooth unearthed near Iran’s Zagros mountain
- Iran’s Zarif due in Kuwait on Saturday
- US faces humiliating defeat after Gibraltar releases Iranian tanker: Envoy
- Spokesman rejects claim on Iran’s commitment in exchange for tanker release
- Zarif reacts to release of Iranian tanker in Gibraltar
- Israel, UAE engaged in secret talks on Iran arranged by US: Report
- US threatens visa ban as Iranian-operated tanker sets to sail from Gibraltar
- Enemies must factor Iran's global power in their calculations: IRGC's chief commander
- Trump’s administration conflicting messages to Iran baffle go-betweens: Report
- Gibraltar releases Iran-operated tanker despite US pressure
Tehran, YJC. Asefi says that the problems of the US with Iran are not likely to be solved even if the nuclear issue comes to a conclusion.
"The nuclear issue has no essence. From the beginning, the US had problems with us in four spheres. They are human rights, mass destruction weapons, which has currently turned into nuclear energy, terrorism, and Middle East peace, or to put it another way the matter of the Zionist regime. I believe that the issue of peaceful activities of Iran is a pretext. If this problem is solved, another one will be brought forth, because the US Achilles’ heel is Israel,” said Hamidreza Asefi, the former Spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran.
He further said "The US policy is Israel-centered. Each administration that rises to power in the US considers itself obliged to defend Israel, and performs its foreign policy according to the interests of the Zionist. But that is no reason for Iran not to resolve the obscurities its nuclear case with the West.”
Asefi added "We must establish strong relations with our neighbors and state that some shortcomings come from our side, but that the major part of it is due to the mistakes of our neighbors. We must mend our relations with European countries. Right now, except for a few countries, we do not have proper relations with Europeans. Another issue which must be considered by the new administrations is to revive the Organization of Islamic Cooperation, because Arab countries currently pursue their affairs via the Arab League, which is not a good thing for Iran. We must embolden the organization and in order to do so, Iran must undertake public diplomacy.”
The former Foreign Ministry Spokesman then provided comments on regional developments and said "From the news we read we conclude that the US is fervidly seeking to change the Middle East map. One of the reasons why the US works slowly and thoughtfully is that it is after changing the map. The US knows, though, that the Assad government is much less threatening than its opposition, but under the influence of some Arab countries and the Zionist regime they made some mistakes in the beginning, which set them on the wrong track. The US plays evasively, but that doesn’t mean that they lack insight. They know well that Bashar enjoys the majority support. The fact that the US gives the opposition the green light for every crime and drags the negotiations to Geneva I and II sessions is only to stretch the game. The US intends to leave a burned country in which no one could work against its interests.”
Asefi added that Iran needs to start negotiations with some Arab countries, warning them that if Syria faces problems they are going to be afflicted as well.
Asked about his opinion about the nature of the problems existing between Tehran and Washington; as well as the visits by Jeffrey Feltman and Sultan Qaboos, he said "The problem between Iran and the US cannot be solved with such diplomatic smiles. The issue of Iran’s relations is not limited to individuals, although the role of individuals is important. It’s like a wrestling match where the two wrestlers hug first, but when they’re on the mat they both try to win.”
Your Comment