Iran's foreign ministry on Monday branded the United States a "law-breaking" country, rejecting any prospect of talks with Washington after US President Donald Trump warned he would again bomb Iran if it resumes nuclear activities.
Trump’s public remarks amounted to an admission of “a criminal and illegal act” that only reinforced America’s image as a violator of international law, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Esmail Baghaei said during his weekly briefing.
“It will be clear to the international community and to the Iranian nation that the United States is a law-breaking country,” Baghaei added. “We have no plan for negotiations.”
The spokesman was speaking a day after Trump told at a ceremony marking the 250th anniversary of the US Navy at Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia that he would not wait so long next time to strike Iranian nuclear facilities.
“We’ll have to take care of that too if they do,” Trump said, referring to Tehran’s potential resumption of nuclear activity. “You want to do that, it’s fine, but we’re going to take care of that and we’re not going to wait so long,” he told sailors gathered at the base.
Tehran faults IAEA report
A recent report by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and its subsequent use by the United States and three European countries -- Britain, France, and Germany -- created a pretext for further attacks, Baghaei said.
The IAEA, according to the spokesman, should have condemned the US and Israeli strikes on nuclear sites. “The report enabled the US and the European trio to exploit the situation to their advantage.”
Iran announced Sunday that its Cairo agreement with the IAEA for limited cooperation was no longer valid.
Tehran was now focused on assessing the consequences of Western actions and that no active inspections were taking place inside Iran, said the Iranian diplomat. “The Cairo arrangement is no longer functional or enforceable,” he added.
Iran lashes out at European governments
Baghaei accused the three European powers of acting irresponsibly and using the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action’s (JCPOA) dispute mechanism to impose Washington’s demands.
“All three conditions set by the Europeans were unreasonable,” he said, adding that Iran nonetheless agreed to engage the IAEA “based on safeguard commitments.”
The understanding reached with the agency, as put by Baghaei, had initially been welcomed in Europe but was later rejected under US pressure. “The Europeans could not prove themselves as mature and independent negotiating parties.”
On Gaza, detainees, and diplomacy
Turning to regional issues, Baghaei said Iran welcomed “any initiative that can stop the genocide in Gaza and enable humanitarian assistance.”
He also confirmed ongoing diplomatic efforts for the release of Iranian national Mahdieh Esfandiari and two French citizens detained in Iran.
Baghaei concluded by saying Iran would never “plead for negotiations.” “Diplomacy is a two-way process… We will use it only when we determine it serves our national interests.”
The remarks came during a meeting with foreign ambassadors in Tehran, where he said the session was held to brief diplomats on developments in New York and the reactivation of UN sanctions.
“Iran had sought a fair and balanced solution, but Western states responded negatively out of greed,” Araghchi said.
“Years of pressure had proven that there is no solution to Iran’s nuclear issue other than diplomacy...The snapback of sanctions, like military attacks, cannot work.”
All UN sanctions suspended under the 2015 deal with Iran snapped back into force on September 27, one month after European powers triggered the snapback mechanism.
The three European countries had weakened their own diplomatic role by resorting to pressure, he said
The Cairo agreement with the IAEA was no longer viable after the snapback, and Iran would redefine its framework for engagement under new conditions, according to the Iranian foreign minister.
Iran had demonstrated goodwill in its dealings with both Western powers and the IAEA, Araghchi said, adding that Tehran had “taken every step it could to reach a negotiated solution.”
“We showed goodwill through our cooperation with the Agency and our fair proposals. The West has no excuse to say Iran avoided talks, nor any justification for triggering the snapback mechanism… Iran’s position is now fully vindicated.”
The United Nations sanctions include restrictions on Iran’s nuclear and military activities, asset freezes on designated entities, and a duty to “exercise vigilance” when doing business with Iran.
France, Germany and the United Kingdom said in a joint statement the reimposition of sanctions was unavoidable after Iran’s breaches of the 2015 nuclear deal, citing enriched uranium stockpiles 48 times above agreed limits.
However, the foreign minister said Iran had proved it seeks only to secure its legitimate rights while remaining open to any fair diplomatic path.
“The last time there was an attack, more than 120 countries condemned it because Iran acted wisely,” Araghchi said. “Once again, Iran has shown it is a smart player that will not surrender its rights.”
