Iranian president says open to ‘useful’ talks on lifting sanctions

A handout picture provided by the Iranian presidency on September 4, 2021 shows Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi during and interview with an Iranian TV channel. (IRANIAN PRESIDENCY / AFP)

TEHRAN – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi said on Sunday that Iran is ready for "useful" talks aiming at ending sanctions against Iran in a telephone talk with his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron.

"We do not oppose useful negotiations, but the plan and result of negotiations must be the lifting of sanctions against Iran," he said in his second conversation with Macron within a month, as quoted by the Iranian presidency's official website.

Besides the nuclear issue, the independence of Iran and France in their policies is a "valuable reserve" that may be used to establish "balanced, strong and stable" ties between the two countries, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi told his French counterpart

Besides the nuclear issue, the independence of Iran and France in their policies is a "valuable reserve" that may be used to establish "balanced, strong and stable" ties between the two countries, Raisi told the French president.

Concerning the current situation in Afghanistan, the Iranian president said the US and NATO policy of military intervention has failed, and 20 years of occupation have had no benefit for the Afghan people.

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"In the current situation, everyone must help form an inclusive government with the participation of all groups" in the country and let the Afghan people decide their own destiny, he added.

Regarding Lebanon, Raisi expressed Iran's support for the formation of a strong government that can ensure and protect the rights of the Lebanese.

The Iranian president said Iran would not withhold any humanitarian aid to Lebanon, and voiced Tehran's readiness to cooperate with France for the progress.

For his part, Macron stressed the need to review the ties between France and Iran, and expressed Paris' interest in developing its relations with Tehran.

Macron mentioned the Afghan refugees in Iran as well as the problems caused by their presence, and emphasized the need for the assistance of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

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Concerning the situation in Lebanon, the French president expressed France's readiness to cooperate with Iran, along with Hezbollah to help create a strong and efficient government in the country.

Macron also voiced hope that the Vienna talks aiming to revive the 2015 nuclear agreement could resume with the presence of Iran.