Deputy FM: World Powers Should Respect Iran’s Redlines

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi said a comprehensive solution to the decade-long nuclear standoff between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) would be possible if only the latter side shows respect for Tehran’s redlines.
“Tehran has entered the nuclear talks with good will and seeks to open a new chapter in the relations with Europe by accomplishing the negotiations,” Takht Ravanchi said in a meeting with visiting Chairman of the Croatian Parliament Foreign Policy Committee Milorad Pupovac and his entourage in Tehran on Tuesday.

“Of course, Tehran has specified some redlines pertaining to the materialization of the Iranian nation’s rights which need to be respected,” he stressed.

During the meeting, the two officials also discussed the latest regional and international developments, specially in Ukraine, Syria and Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Pupovac, for his part, underscored the Croatian parliament and government’s support for the nuclear talks between Iran and the world powers, and expressed the hope that the negotiations would yield desirable results.

In relevant remarks earlier this month, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said Tehran is resolved to practice détente in relations with different world states, but it would never accept to make a deal through crossing or ignoring its redlines.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s foreign policy is a policy based on détente and building confidence with the world and it is not a tactic and slogan. The Islamic Republic of Iran doesn’t seek to stir, continue and increase tension with others but it is after building confidence with everyone, specially with its neighbors,” Rouhani said, addressing a number of senior Defense Ministry and Armed Forces directors and managers in Tehran.

Reminding that Iran has not invaded any country in the last three centuries, he said, “We don’t have greedy eyes on others’ wealth and territories and of course, we don’t allow anyone to make an aggression (of our country) and if anyone wants to make any aggression against our country, we will stand firmly and counter it as we did during the 8-year-long holy defense (Iraqi-imposed war against Iran 1980-1988) and we will do the same wherever necessary.”

“This nation resists against imposition and aggression and meantime, we don’t intend to make aggression against any country and we are always after deterrence and defense,” President Rouhani reiterated.

Meantime, he underlined that “the world should know that we won’t make a deal on our honor, independence, national interests and values (since) these are our redlines”.

On November 24, Iran and the world powers sealed a six-month Joint Plan of Action to lay the groundwork for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over its nuclear energy program. In exchange for Tehran’s confidence-building bid to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities, the Sextet of world powers agreed to lift some of the existing sanctions against Tehran and continue talks with the country to settle all problems between the two sides.

Iran and the world powers are due to start a fresh round of talks in Vienna on March 17.