Iran says nuclear deal within reach if US acts realistically

Türkiye's Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu (right) and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian attend a joint press conference in Ankara on Jan 17, 2023. (ADEN ALTAN / AFP)

TEHRAN/ANKARA – The Iranian foreign minister said on Tuesday that an agreement on the revival of a 2015 nuclear deal is within reach if the United States stops setting new conditions and acts realistically, official news agency IRNA reported.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks at a joint press conference with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu following their meeting in Türkiye's capital Ankara.

The Iranian minister said he discussed the removal of the US sanctions against Iran in the meeting with Cavusoglu and held "important and diverse" discussions with Turkish officials.

Amir-Abdollahian also said Iran is "very pleased" with the first direct talks between Türkiye and Syria since the outbreak of the Syria civil war in 2011.

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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also had a 90-minute meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over bilateral, regional and global issues, according to the minister

"We are very pleased by the fact that relations between Damascus and Ankara are undergoing a change … We think any positive development between Ankara and Damascus will benefit the region and our countries," Amir-Aabdollahian said.

Iran will "do its best to achieve this goal as soon as possible," the Iranian foreign minister noted.

Meanwhile, Cavusoglu said the issue of Syria has been discussed extensively with Amir-Aabdollahian.

"We strongly support Syria's border, territorial integrity and political unity … An engagement with the (Syrian) government has started for permanent stability," he said.

In this May 24, 2021 file photo, the flag of Iran waves in front of the International Center building with the headquarters of the International Atomic Energy Agency, IAEA, in Vienna, Austria. (FLORIAN SCHROETTER / AP)

Amir-Abdollahian also had a 90-minute meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over bilateral, regional and global issues, according to the minister.

The speedy implementation of the comprehensive plan for Iran-Türkiye strategic cooperation, which was signed during Erdogan's trip to Tehran in July 2022, was underlined during the meetings, he noted.

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Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi will soon visit Türkiye, the top Iranian diplomat noted.

Commenting on Iranian-Russian bilateral relations in all areas, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhanistressed the need to implement joint economic projects within the frameworks of the agreements previously reached between Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi and Russian President Vladimir Putin

Counter sanctions

Separately, a top Iranian security official on Tuesday suggested establishing "joint and synergetic" bodies to counter unilateral sanctions, Iranian Students' News Agency reported.

Making the remarks in a meeting with Igor Levitin, a senior aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Iran, Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Shamkhani warned that the unilateral sanctions system disrupts targeted countries' development and exacerbates regional and international crises.

Commenting on Iranian-Russian bilateral relations in all areas, Shamkhani stressed the need to implement joint economic projects within the frameworks of the agreements previously reached between Raisi and Putin.

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Levitin, for his part, said Russia's main priority is to swiftly begin construction of the rail route in Iran that would be integrated into the International North-South Transport Corridor and complete Rasht-Astara railway given the two projects' strategic importance. 

He pointed to Iran's unique capacities and advantages in the energy and transport sectors, expressing Russian companies' willingness to make large investments in Iranian infrastructure projects.

Highlighting the agreements between Russia and Iran on developing trade through using national currencies and barter, Levitin said the necessary mechanisms have been activated for removing the restrictions resulting from the sanctions imposed on the two countries' banking sectors.

Both targeted by sanctions, particularly those of the US, Iran and Russia have recently expanded their bilateral political and economic relations to counter embargoes.