Iran Will Not Give Unilateral Concessions in Nuclear Talks

Iran will not be compelled by the United States’ threats, intimidation and provocation to give unilateral concessions in talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear deal, a senior Iranian diplomat said. 
“The course of negotiations is a two-way path and commitment in return for commitment is our clear message,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kanaani said at a regular press briefing on Monday, ISNA reported.
He added that the details of the steps that need to be taken are clear, but the US political will is an area of uncertainty. 
“We have proven that we are committed to the negotiating table and don’t negotiate for the sake of negotiation, but to return to the implementation of the deal,” he said. 
The 2015 deal, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, offered sanctions relief to Tehran in return for curbs on its nuclear program, but the US pulled out four years ago and reimposed sanctions that prompted Iran to row back on its commitments. 
Talks have been underway for more than a year to work out how both sides can resume compliance, but are stalled over final differences, particularly Iran’s demand for assurances of US adherence under future presidents. 
Kanaani said Iran has been faithful, but faces a party that has already reneged on its commitments before. 
“Therefore, to reach an agreement, we need guarantees that the past behavior will not be repeated,” he said. 
Kanaani also said the claim by US officials that nuclear talks are no longer on their agenda is “hypocritical and a lie.”
“Americans have sent messages time and again via different channels and talked of their readiness to return to the deal,” he said. 
It seems that the US wants both to return to the agreement and avoid paying the price, according to the diplomat.
US officials have claimed that their only message to Iran in recent weeks has been about the unrest which began following the death of a young girl in police custody. 
Kanaani pointed to the US direct support of violent riots in Iran, saying such provocative moves would not help them achieve what they desire. 
“If they have betted on Iran’s domestic developments, they have made a mistake,” Kanaani said, adding that the Islamic Republic has contained the situation. 

Media Campaign 

Asked about the friction between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency, Kanaani said cooperation is now back to normal following a recent meeting between Iran’s top nuclear chief and the IAEA director general in Vienna. 
The IAEA has raised questions about nuclear material that it claims have been found at undeclared sites in Iran. 
The agency’s director general had earlier reported that Iran’s responses were not credible, paving the way for a resolution against the country by the IAEA Board of Governors in June. 
“We continue our cooperation with the international agency with a constructive view and the technical negotiations are once again on a good course,” he said.
The spokesman later dismissed allegations about the presence of Iranian military forces in the Crimean Peninsula to help Russia in its war on Ukraine. 
“Such fake news are published in line with a media campaign against Iran and with the aim of diverting attention,” he said. 
He stressed that Iran’s relations with Russia are based on mutual interests and within legal frameworks that contradict no international norm. 
“The West and America’s medial campaign about Iran’s ties with Russia serve special political purposes and are aimed at diverting attention from the destructive role that these countries play themselves in the Ukraine war.” 
Western countries have also placed sanctions on Iran over allegations of sending drones to Russia to use in its war on Ukraine.