US failed to isolate Iran, create despair among Iranians: Raisi to CNN

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: CNN
25 Sep 2023 11:59
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The Iranian President says US-brokered efforts to normalize ties between "Israel" and some Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success."

Iranian Ebrahim President Ebrahim Raisi speaks during a news conference on the sidelines of the 78th United Nations General Assembly, at UN headquarters in New York City, on September 20, 2023 (AFP)

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi affirmed that the United States failed to isolate his country, as Tehran joined the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and the BRICS group and enjoys broad political, economic, and social relations with other nations.

In an interview with CNN's Fareed Zakaria, Raisi pointed out that despite imposing pressure and sanctions, the US failed to create despair and frustration among the Iranian people, stressing that Iran is a developed country, despite all Western hostility.

The Iranian President called on the US administration to reconsider its approach toward the Iranian people, who decided to live independently and are progressing day after day, and confirmed that they will not submit to the logic of force.

He also considered that the era in which Washington wants to dominate people has ended, as emerging powers that will shape the future of the world have been formed.

Touching on the latest prisoner swap agreement between Tehran and Washington, Raisi indicated that the Iranians who were in the United States were unjustly imprisoned, while the Americans who were imprisoned in Iran committed crimes and were convicted during the trial stages. He said the motives behind the agreement were "purely humanitarian".

Regarding Iranian assets frozen in some countries, he underlined that these funds belong to the Iranian people and will be spent on goals that meet their needs when they return to Iran.

Speaking about inspections made by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the Iranian President said Iran has been cooperating in this regard from the beginning, and this was confirmed by officials at the Agency.

He explained that this cooperation took place in two ways: the first is through the installation of cameras that permanently record all the interactions of Iranian nuclear centers, and the second is through periodic inspections carried out by the IAEA.

Raisi reiterated that nuclear weapons have no place in Iran’s defense doctrine, stressing that Iran is not in need of such weapons and does not believe in their use, and this is in accordance with the religious ruling of Iranian leader Sayyed Ali Khamenei, which prohibits them.

"We have announced time and time again that the use of nuclear weapons, the use of weapons of mass destruction in general, do not have a place. Why? Because we don't believe in it, nor do we have a need for it."

While the IAEA published a statement confirming that there were no deviations in the Iranian nuclear program, the three European countries (Germany, the UK, and France) made completely unfounded allegations, ignoring the agency’s reports, according to Raisi.

He indicated that Iran has lost confidence in these three countries, adding that his country has no objections to the United Nations nuclear watchdog inspecting its nuclear facilities.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran hasn't said we do not wish any inspectors to be here."

A couple of weeks ago, Iran withdrew the designation of IAEA inspectors assigned to conduct verification activities in Iran under the NPT Safeguards Agreement, accusing the US, UK, Germany, and France of politicizing the IAEA's Board of Governors.

Last Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Nasser Kanaani said Iran intends to maintain its collaboration with the IAEA and has no intentions of reducing bilateral engagement.

This commitment remains unchanged, despite the decision to withdraw several IAEA experts from Iranian nuclear facilities.

In the same context, Raisi made it clear that his country's decision to enrich uranium to 60% was "in response to a breaking of commitment of the signatories to the (2015) agreement."

Following a 2021 attack on its Natanz nuclear facility, Iran confirmed that it will enrich uranium to 60% by 2021.

"In the beginning, we were not seeking 60% levels of enrichment. They (European states) trampled upon their commitments," Raisi pointed out.

He continued, "It was officially announced that the action that we intend to take is not intended to reach nuclear weapons of any type or a military dimension of any type, but it is… a response for the lack of commitment demonstrated by the Europeans."

Tackling the normalization of ties between the Israeli occupation and some Arab nations, the Iranian President stressed the popular rejection of normalization.

Raisi underscored that US-brokered efforts to normalize ties between "Israel" and some Gulf Arab nations, including Saudi Arabia, "will see no success."

He pointed out that through these efforts, the US administration is attempting to create a kind of security for the Israeli occupation, but this has not succeeded so far, since "Israel" is suffering from internal and external crises.

Regarding the Palestinian cause, Raisi said the solution lies in the initiative proposed by Sayyed Khamenei, which stipulates granting the right of every Palestinian, regardless of their religion, to vote in fair and free elections to choose the form of the legitimate Palestinian state in the land of Palestine.