The First Vice President of Iran confirmed that they will continue to communicate with the mediating countries in the negotiations with Washington to follow up on the latest developments related to the Iranian nuclear file. On Monday, Iran resolved circulated claims regarding Norway hosting the next round of indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. The English-language Iranian newspaper, Tehran Times, reported last Friday, citing unnamed informed sources, that Iran and the United States might begin negotiations mediated by Norway this August. In response to Norway’s role in the negotiations between Iran and America and the possibility of mediation, Baghai said: “No, this is not confirmed,” according to the Iranian Mehr News Agency.
In another part of his statements, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Ismail Baghai, rejected the claim made by the US Secretary of State that “the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities was aimed at preventing the conflict between Israel and Iran from escalating into a full-scale regional war,” describing it as “a ridiculous and laughable claim” that justifies a blatant violation of international law and an attack on Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Iranian news agency IRNA. He affirmed that “such excuses do not lessen the significant responsibility that America bears for committing this illegal and criminal act.”
So far, five rounds of indirect nuclear talks have been held between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman, amid ongoing disagreements over the issues of uranium enrichment and sanctions lifting. America demands the cessation of uranium enrichment and the dismantling of some aspects of the program, while Iran insists that enrichment is a right guaranteed to it under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and conditions the complete lifting of sanctions before reaching any agreement. Tehran also emphasizes the peaceful nature of its nuclear program, demanding serious guarantees for Washington’s commitment to any future agreement.
It is noteworthy that in May 2018, America unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear agreement and re-imposed economic sanctions on Iran. In response, Tehran abandoned some of the restrictions imposed on its nuclear activities as stipulated in the agreement.
