Shamkhani: Not linking economy to negotiations fixed policy
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The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council in Iran says the country has not and will not retract any part of its red lines.
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The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani (NBC)
Noor News Agency reported Tuesday that the Iranian Supreme National Security Council held a meeting with Foreign Minister, Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Director of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Mohammad Eslami, chief negotiator, Ali Bagheri Kani, and Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Ali Shamkhani.
According to the agency, "A complete report on the process of the sanctions lifting negotiations and the process of examining the ideas of the European Union coordinator together with summarizing the opinions of the Islamic Republic of Iran in this regard was presented."
During the meeting, Shamkhani reiterated Tehran's policy of not linking the country's economy to the nuclear negotiations, pointing out that "regardless of whether an agreement is reached or not, which in all cases serves the interests of the Iranian nation, and also with the very good coordination that was done between different parts of the country to advance the negotiations, there was no retraction of any part of the red lines and there will not be any in the future."
The secretary of the Supreme National Security Council underlined that "the law on strategic action to cancel sanctions and protect the interests of the Iranian nation, that was passed with the intelligence and foresight of the Revolutionary Parliament, provided the country with very good capacities to fully pursue the policy of active resistance, the fruits of which are now more evident than in the past."
According to Noor News Agency, Bagheri Kani and Eslami "provided comprehensive explanations regarding the negotiations in the sections related to the lifting of sanctions and nuclear issues and answered the numerous questions of the parliament members present in the meeting."
EU: Response from Iran is being studied
The meeting comes after the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borell's spokesperson said, after receiving Iran's response, "We are studying it and are consulting with the other JCPOA participants and the US on the way ahead."
Last week, the European Union presented a "final" text after the indirect talks between US and Iranian officials in Vienna, which lasted for four days.
On Monday, the head of the delegation of Iran at the Vienna Talks on JCPOA Bagheri Kani said the Iranian negotiating delegation focused on obtaining the necessary and reassuring guarantees that Iran will benefit economically from the nuclear agreement.
The Supreme National Security Council of Iran held on Monday an extraordinary meeting chaired by Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi to discuss the Vienna negotiations, during which Bagheri Kani presented a comprehensive report on the nuclear talks to the Council.
Iran says an agreement could be reached, US not planning to relax enforcement of sanctions
In the same context, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani indicated that an agreement could be reached at the talks for the 2015 JCOA agreement revival if red lines established by Iran are observed and Iranian interests can be guaranteed fulfillment.
Similarly, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian stressed that the final stage of negotiations is presently in its preliminary stages and that a deal is possible provided the US respects Iran's red lines and guarantees that Iran would enjoy its economic benefits.
On the issue of easing sanctions on Iran's Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC), US State Department Spokesperson Ned Price told reporters at a briefing that the United States is not planning to relax the enforcement of sanctions against Iran, including the "foreign terrorist organizations" designations and sanctions on the IRGC.
"If Iran wants these sanctions lifted, they will need to alter their underlying conduct. They will need to change the dangerous activities that gave rise to these sanctions in the first place," Price claimed.
