- 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. Deputy Speaker of Majlis has welcomed the initiative to launch an Iran-US friendship parliamentary group.
Speaking with ICANA, Mohammad Reza Bahonar said in answer to a question whether the establishment of a parliamentary friendship group to support the strengthening bonds between Iran and the US is considered a red line by the Islamic Republic that it is not only no red line, but that he deems it better if the parliamentary diplomacy precedes the governmental one.
"One of the week points about previous administrations was that they would not tap into public diplomacy. There are limitations to official diplomacy which public diplomacy lacks. Public diplomacy can start from a football match or parliamentary talk or lobbyism, and that is something I believe in,” Bahonar stated.
Asked if he thinks the present, largely Principalist Majlis will work its way into the friendship group, Bahonar said "I believe that the Geneva talks which are going to be held next week will clarify the course to some extent. Maybe in the next 5 or 6 months things will grow clearer. We would like 4 or 5 months to pass since the official diplomacy so that we can discern some signs from the US government; maybe the signs satisfy us that they want the game to be a win-win situation. If there is enough such signs, we will take further steps, but if Washington will be looking for a win-lose game in its own favor, the old trend will repeat itself and we will follow the same win-lose situation in our own interest.”
He also provided a perspective of Tehran-Washington relations while Rouhani and Obama hold office, saying "The Obama administration has little time. We don’t have much time either. We have taken the preliminary steps and are waiting for a response from the US.”
Pointing to the Supreme Leader’s role in expanding Iran-US relations, the Deputy Speaker said "If we try to have a religious look at the issue, someone would have gone wrong to fall ahead of or behind the Leader. And if we try to examine it in legal terms, based on the Constitution the final decision is relegated to the Supreme National Security Council, whose decisions are applicable only with the permission and endorsement of the Supreme Leader. Once we put religion and the law side by side, nobody from either within or outside the country will have doubt that the Iranian Leader is a highly insightful and meticulous person who says things at the right moment.”
Your Comment