TEHRAN, Oct. 31 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said that Iran is prepared to participate in constructive negotiations that are fair and respectful, Iranian media reported Thursday.
Speaking at a meeting with local officials in the northwestern province of East Azarbaijan on Thursday, Araghchi said Iran has "never had any problem with negotiation," but genuine dialogue must be conducted on an equal footing.
"Negotiation is different from dictation, ordering or bullying," he said. "Whenever the parties to the talks are ready to negotiate on an equal footing, aiming to reach an agreement based on mutual respect and free from threats and intimidation, the Islamic Republic of Iran is ready too."
Araghchi arrived in East Azarbaijan on Wednesday to attend a national seminar on Iran's diplomacy and territorial integrity.
In July 2015, Iran signed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) with Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia, and the United States, agreeing to put some curbs on its nuclear program in return for the removal of sanctions, including those of the UN. The United States, however, pulled out of the JCPOA in May 2018 and reimposed sanctions on Iran.
In late August, France, Britain and Germany triggered the "snapback" mechanism, leading to the UN's reimposition of sanctions after the Security Council failed to extend sanctions relief in September.
Iran and the United States were set for a sixth round of nuclear talks when Israel launched major surprise airstrikes on several areas in Iran. On June 22, U.S. forces joined the attacks by bombing the Iranian nuclear facilities of Natanz, Fordow, and Isfahan.
Over the past months, the United States has repeatedly called on Iran to halt uranium enrichment on its soil and curb its missile program. Iran has rejected both issues as non-negotiable. ■
