The Foreign Ministry dismissed reports that a message was sent to the US president via Russia’s leader, saying political contacts between Russia and the US have no bearing on Tehran-Moscow relations.
Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday, Foreign Ministry Spokesman Bahram Qassemi denied reports that Iran asked President Vladimir Putin to convey a message to Donald Trump from Tehran, Tasnim News Agency reported.
“We have no message for Mr. Trump and have not held any talks with the Russian government in this regard,” he said.
Commenting on the Monday summit between Trump and Putin in Finland, Qassemi said he has no idea about the agenda of the meeting. “Our relations with Russia and regular consultations have existed and will continue, both on bilateral and regional issues.”
Qassemi underlined that contacts between Russia and the US would have no effect on Tehran’s ties with Moscow.
The presidents of Russia and America met Monday in Helsinki for one-on-one talks.
Trump’s Call More Likely
Qassemi said it would be more likely for Trump to call Iran to negotiate after he pulled out of the international 2015 Iran nuclear deal than Tehran making such a gesture.
His remarks came after Trump last week said that with the United States increasing sanctions on Iran, “at a certain point they’re going to call me and say ‘let’s make a deal,’ and we’ll make a deal.”
“Maybe someday he will call Tehran and ask for negotiations—this is more likely,” Qassemi said.
Iran has repeatedly ruled out the possibility for any renegotiation of the nuclear deal with the US after Trump decided to withdraw from the internationally-supported accord despite the UN nuclear watchdog confirming Iran’s full compliance with the agreement endorsed by the UN Security Council.
