Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian speaks during a joint press conference with his Russian counterpart following their meeting in Moscow on Oct 6, 2021. (KIRILL KUDRYAVTSEV / POOL / AFP)
TEHRAN – Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abollahian on Tuesday reiterated his country's defense policy, saying that the Islamic republic will continue to increase its defense power despite the United States' "unconstructive sanctions."
Amir Abdollahian made the remarks in a telephone conversation with his French counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian.
Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abollahian stressed there is a need for the United States to "provide guarantees" not to impose further sanctions by violating a possible agreement and "an effective verification" of removal of imposed sanctions
He said the defense program is a sovereign right of any country, and "heedless of unconstructive behavior of US sanctioning, we will continue to increase our country's defense capability."
Iran seeks a pragmatic and result-oriented approach in the upcoming nuclear talks, the Iranian foreign minister said, alluding to the resumption of talks on the revival of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, which are set to begin on Nov 29 in Vienna of Austria.
Iran is looking for "a good agreement," but this requires conditions, including the return to the undertakings by other sides and "effective lifting" of anti-Iran sanctions, he noted.
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Amir Abdollahian also referred to the recent new US sanctions against Iran, calling the move a proof for Iran's continued "distrust" of the United States.
He stressed there is a need for the United States to "provide guarantees" not to impose further sanctions by violating a possible agreement and "an effective verification" of removal of imposed sanctions.
The Iranian minister also urged the International Atomic Energy Agency to avoid "politicizing" Iran's nuclear program, stressing that his country will continue its technical cooperation with the UN nuclear watchdog.
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For his part, Le Drian announced his country's support for the commitments of all parties to the JCPOA, saying that Paris will do everything in its capacity to that end.
He also expressed the hope that the forthcoming talks in Vienna would progress rapidly.
Additionally, both sides announced readiness to expanded relations in various fields.