GENEVA: Talks between Iran’s foreign minister and his British, French, German and EU counterparts on Iranian nuclear programme began in Geneva on Friday, an AFP journalist witnessed.
The talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and his European counterparts are aimed at relaunching dialogue on Tehran’s nuclear ambitions, and on reaching a diplomatic solution to the Iran-Israel war.
‘A PROMISING AGREEMENT’
Araghchi on Friday condemned the Israeli attacks against the Islamic republic as a “betrayal of diplomatic efforts” with the US, saying Tehran and Washington had been due to craft a “promising agreement” on the Iranian nuclear programme.
“We were attacked in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic process,” Araghchi told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva ahead of a crunch meeting with European foreign ministers.
He said, “We were supposed to meet with the Americans on June 15 to draft a very promising agreement regarding our nuclear programme.”
IRANIAN PEOPLE
At the same time, the Iranian top diplomat promised to defend Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The Iranian people will continue defending their motherland.”
In this connection, he made it clear that Iran was responding to the Israeli aggression according to the UN Charter, which extended this right to every country.
Earlier in the day, Araghchi ruled out any discussion on Iranian ballistic missile programme, saying no rational mind can accept that Tehran negotiate with anyone about its missile capabilities, which are “extraordinary and defensive” in nature.
He told the state TV that Iran’s talks with the E3 – France, Germany and Italy – in Geneva will focus solely on nuclear and regional issues, and that Iranian ballistic missile programme is non-negotiable.
WAR CRIMES
In his address, the foreign minister reminded the UN Human Rights Council that Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and innocent civilian population were war crimes.