“Iran has stated that if the United States takes military action against them, it will be considered an act of aggression and they will respond accordingly.”
The state-run IRNA news agency reported that Esmail Baghaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, made this statement during a briefing on the 23rd, local time.
When asked whether Iran would leave the negotiation table if the U.S. initiated limited operations against them, Spokesperson Baghaei replied, “The two issues are fundamentally incompatible.”
He added, “Regardless of the scale, any attack constitutes an act of aggression, and naturally, it will lead to consequences.”
Regarding nuclear negotiations with the U.S., Spokesperson Baghaei mentioned, “One of the key elements for the possibility of an agreement could be the lifting of U.S. sanctions, and another could be measures ensuring that Iran does not develop weapons from its nuclear program.”
Referring to Steve Whitkoft, the U.S. negotiation delegate and Special Envoy for the Middle East, mentioning in a Fox News interview on the 22nd, “The President is wondering why they don’t surrender,” Baghaei also said, “Negotiations that begin with general pressure and prejudice cannot yield good results.”
The United States and Iran are expected to hold their third meeting on the 26th in Geneva, Switzerland.
The U.S. is demanding that Iran stop uranium enrichment and export nuclear materials overseas, while Iran is reportedly willing to dilute their 60% enriched uranium instead of exporting it.
[Photo Source: AFP=Yonhap News]
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