Iran: No decision on US nuclear talks, reaffirms position on Zangezur
3 Min Read
Iran’s FM Abbas Araghchi says no decision has been made on US nuclear talks, as Tehran outlines its stance on the Zangezur Corridor and Armenia-Azerbaijan peace.
-
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi in an exclusive interview with CGTN. (CGTN)
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said on Sunday that “nothing has been decided yet” regarding Iran-US nuclear talks, adding that the host country for a potential meeting has not been confirmed yet.
Speaking on the sidelines of a cabinet meeting, Araghchi also addressed the upcoming IAEA visit to Tehran, noting that the agency’s Deputy Director General will arrive Monday.
Araghchi clarified that “there is no plan to visit any nuclear site before reaching an agreed framework,” stressing that this framework “will be based on the law of the Islamic Consultative Assembly” and that “cooperation will not begin before that.”
Dispute with Europe over snapback mechanism
The foreign minister also said contacts with European countries are ongoing, but noted they have raised the possibility of reimposing sanctions through the “snapback” mechanism under the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal.
This move, he said, “has no basis,” adding that “Europe is not considered a participant in the nuclear agreement from Tehran’s point of view.”
“There are technical and legal discussions my colleagues are holding with the Europeans, but no date has been set for the next round of negotiations,” he added.
Iran’s position on Zangezur Corridor
Addressing the Zangezur Corridor Iran stance, Araghchi said he will hold a phone call with Armenian Foreign Minister Ararat Mirzoyan on Monday, and that Armenia’s deputy foreign minister will visit Tehran on Tuesday. He affirmed Iran’s position of welcoming any Armenia-Azerbaijan peace agreement.
Pezeshkian: Media exaggeration over corridor issue
President Masoud Pezeshkian said Araghchi presented a report on the Zangezur Corridor during the cabinet meeting, adding that “the issue is not as exaggerated as it has been in the media.” He stressed that all of Iran’s demands regarding the route have been observed, including maintaining territorial integrity and keeping transit routes open toward Europe and the north.
Pezeshkian noted that the only remaining issue is that “an American company and an Armenian company will be the ones constructing this road.”
The 40-kilometer Zangezur Corridor connects Azerbaijan to its autonomous exclave of Nakhchivan via Armenia’s Syunik Province, passing through the city of Meghri. Nakhchivan’s reliance on Iranian territory as a primary transit route has strengthened Tehran’s influence in the South Caucasus, giving it leverage over regional connectivity and security.
Read more: Iran rejects US-backed corridor through Armenia, will defend interests
