A senior Iranian diplomat has underlined the Islamic Republic’s continued openness to dialogue, but rejection of coercion.
Kamal Kharrazi, head of Iran’s Strategic Council on Foreign Relations and member of the Expediency Council, made the remarks in an interview with the official website of Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, which was published on Wednesday.
The official reminded the three guiding principles of dignity, wisdom, and expediency, which has been outlined by the Leader as the basis for any decent negotiation process deserving of the Islamic Republic’s participation.
“If negotiations are conducted on logical grounds and the dignity of the Islamic Republic is respected, we are ready to talk, provided that nothing is imposed upon us. If there is any attempt at imposition, we will stand against it,” he noted.
Kharrazi referenced remarks made by the Leader last month, during which Ayatollah Khamenei had rejected the United States’ demands concerning nuclear negotiations, and stated that accepting talks under threat was something “no honorable nation would ever do, and no wise statesman would ever endorse.”
He noted how the Leader had stressed that talks with the US were not to the Iranian nation’s benefit since the American side has already predetermined the outcome, namely shutdown of the Islamic Republic’s nuclear activities and enrichment. “That is not negotiation. That is dictation, that is imposition,” Kharrazi said, quoting Ayatollah Khamenei.
The official went on to elaborate on the three principles outlined by the Leader as the characteristics of decent negotiation.
“Dignity means preserving national honor and avoiding any sense of humiliation. Wisdom means relying on logic and rational argument in dialogue. Expediency means realistic understanding of circumstances and showing reasonable flexibility to achieve a win–win outcome.”
He added that Iran’s acceptance of indirect talks with the US before the outbreak of the illegal and unprovoked Israeli-American war on the country in June reflected wisdom as it demonstrated the Islamic Republic’s readiness for dialogue, while neutralizing American propaganda accusing Tehran of avoiding negotiations.
“Despite doubts about the sincerity of the other side, the Leader approved the framework of indirect talks to showcase Iran’s logic and goodwill to the world,” Kharrazi said.
He emphasized that throughout five rounds of indirect talks, Iran’s dignity was fully preserved as no agreement was made that contradicted national interests, Iran’s right to enrichment was reaffirmed, and reasonable flexibility was shown where appropriate.
‘12-day war proved Western parties’ non-commitment to logical dialogue’
However, according to Kharrazi, the outbreak of the 12-day war in the middle of the talks proved that Western parties were not committed to logical dialogue and sought to impose restrictions beyond the nuclear issue.
“Naturally, Iran will never negotiate its missile capability or [support for] the [regional] Resistance Axis. We express our positions rationally, but will never submit to imposed talks,” he said.
Nevertheless, the official said two decades of nuclear diplomacy on the part of the Islamic Republic has shown that the Islamic Republic has never shunned diplomacy.
“For us, diplomacy is not a sign of weakness, but a symbol of rationality and strength.”
He cited the country’s taking legitimate nuclear countermeasures under former presidents Mohammad Khatami and Hassan Rouhani in response to the counterparty’s violations.
“This experience,” he said, “proved that while Iran must always be ready for negotiations, it should never accept imposition.”
Recent interactions with Europe aimed at prompting it to reverse its efforts at activation of nuclear-related sanctions against Iran also followed the same pattern since European states kept up their counterproductive push, despite Iran’s flexibility.
‘West’s nuclear accusations rooted in failure to understand Iran’s religious culture’
Elsewhere in his remarks, Kharrazi addressed the West’s incessant accusations against Iran of “diverting” its nuclear program.
The claims, he said, were rooted in the Western parties’ failure to understand the Islamic Republic’s religious culture, which has prompted the Leader to issue a fatwa (religious decree) banning acquisition, manufacturing, or possession of nuclear weapons.
“Westerners do not take this fatwa seriously,” he said, “because they fail to understand our religious culture and assume Iran may change course in the future.”
‘Nuclear issue just an excuse’
As a case in point concerning Iran’s commitment to non-pursuance of non-conventional arms, he recalled that the Islamic Republic voluntarily implemented the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)’s Additional Protocol, allowing the agency to visit its nuclear facilities without prior notice.
“The IAEA’s current data confirming that Iran is not pursuing nuclear weapons is precisely the result of these inspections,” he noted.
The official emphasized that the nuclear issue was merely a pretext within the West’s long-standing hostility towards Iran’s Islamic Revolution, and was being used as a tool for political pressure.
Addressing a question on whether uranium enrichment was worth enduring sanctions, Kharrazi said, “Self-reliance is a core principle of the Islamic Republic.”
“Just as we achieved independence in the missile and defense sectors, we must be self-sufficient in energy as well. Oil will eventually run out, so the country must develop alternative sources, including nuclear energy.”
He added that any nation wishing to build nuclear power plants had to possess the technical ability to produce fuel; otherwise, dependence on foreign suppliers would become a lever of pressure.
“Iran’s long-term goal is to generate 20,000 megawatts of nuclear electricity,” Kharrazi said. “Fuel supply for these reactors must be planned now, because uranium enrichment is Iran’s inalienable right and the cornerstone of our energy independence.”
‘Iran’s powerful, swift response forced enemy to surrender’
Still addressing the developments of the 12-day war, which was met with decisive and successful defensive and retaliatory operations by Iran’s Armed Forces, the official noted how “by acting first it (the Israeli regime) made a grave mistake.”
“Iran’s powerful and swift response forced the enemy to seek a ceasefire,” he said.
“In politics and defense, we must always be ready for any development. The Islamic Republic, relying on its domestic strength and the resolve of its serviceman, possesses that readiness.”
Kharrazi noted that in the recent war, the Israelis depended on Western weapons and systems, including America’s THAAD radar, whereas Iran relied on complete independence.
Analyzing the Leader’s performance throughout the aggression, he reminded how Ayatollah Khamenei immediately appointed replacements after the martyrdom of senior Iranian commanders.
The Leader, he added, also personally addressed the nation in three televised messages that calmed the society and demonstrated full control over the situation.
According to Kharrazi, the enemy’s goal was to bring down Iran’s defense apparatus, but the Leader’s prudence and timely endeavor thwarted the scheme and stabilized public morale.