Iran Demands Assurance from US for Future Diplomatic Talks
Iran's Stance on US Negotiations
Iran has made it clear that any future negotiations with the United States will be futile unless Washington provides a reliable guarantee to prevent further aggression from both Israel and the US. In a recent email interview, Dr. Iraj Elahi, the Iranian Ambassador to India, outlined Tehran's prerequisites for re-engaging in dialogue with the US.
Elahi stated, "Given the US's history of undermining diplomatic efforts and its collaboration with Israel in launching unlawful attacks on Iran while negotiations were ongoing, any talks would lack significance unless there is a credible assurance against such future aggressions." He was referring to two significant military operations that occurred last month.
On June 13, Israel initiated "Operation Rising Lion," which involved extensive airstrikes on Iranian territory, targeting nuclear facilities at Natanz and Fordow, missile production sites, and command bases of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Reports indicated that several high-ranking IRGC officials and nuclear scientists were killed during this operation.
Subsequently, the US conducted strikes on June 21-22 under "Operation Midnight Hammer," which also aimed at Iranian nuclear infrastructure. Iran has vehemently condemned these actions, labeling them as clear violations of international law and the UN Charter. Elahi remarked, "The Israeli regime, which possesses nuclear weapons and has not ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), attacked us under the pretext of preventing Iran from developing nuclear capabilities. There is no evidence supporting such claims, and our nuclear program is under stringent IAEA inspections."
He further criticized the US strikes as lacking legal justification, calling them "a crime of aggression." Elahi also alleged that these operations included cyber and terrorist elements, leading to the deaths of numerous scientists, military personnel, and innocent civilians. He emphasized that these attacks represent a severe breach of Article 2, Paragraph 4 of the UN Charter, the non-proliferation regime, and various UN Security Council resolutions.
The ambassador accused both the US and Israel of sabotaging diplomatic efforts, noting that the attacks occurred just two days before the sixth round of negotiations between Iran and the US. He described this as a betrayal of diplomacy and a clear sign of America's insincerity in pursuing dialogue. Dismissing Israel's justification for the attacks as a preemptive measure against an existential threat, Elahi asserted, "This claim is entirely unfounded and lacks any basis in international law. Iran has never initiated an attack against any nation in its history. While we do not recognize Israel and consider it an occupying and apartheid regime, our stance on the Palestinian issue is peaceful, advocating for a referendum involving all original inhabitants."
Regarding the nuclear issue, the ambassador reiterated that Iran's program is peaceful. He stated, "IAEA reports indicate that Iran's nuclear activities do not deviate towards weaponization. The rationale provided by Israel and the US for attacking our peaceful facilities is both illegal and illogical." When asked about Iran's recent decision to limit cooperation with the IAEA, Elahi affirmed that Tehran remains a member of the NPT and is committed to its obligations, but he criticized the Agency's politicization as a contributing factor to the current situation.
He explained, "The Parliament's decision to suspend cooperation reflects public discontent with the IAEA's biased actions, particularly the silence of its Director General regarding the attacks. We expected him to either help prevent such aggression or at least condemn it, but he did neither." While reaffirming Iran's openness to diplomacy, the ambassador stressed that meaningful negotiations can only occur if the US guarantees that such attacks will not happen again.