Raisi Tells Macron: All Sanctions Must Be Removed
TEHRAN -- President Ebrahim Raisi said Saturday any possible agreement between Iran and the P4+1 group of countries in Vienna must include the removal of all sanctions, the provision of valid guarantees and cessation of political issues and claims.
He told his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron over phone that the Iranian negotiating team has repeatedly announced that it welcomes the initiatives that would guarantee the provision and protection of the nation’s rights.
Certain “political pressures or claims have been made with the aim of maintaining the leverage of pressure on the Iranian nation which undermine the prospect of reaching an agreement”, he said.
He noted that the Iranian delegation is advancing the talks with “seriousness”.
“In the course of the negotiations, the Islamic Republic of Iran has offered constructive proposals and has examined the proposals made by the other side of the talks based on the their conformity with the interests of the Iranian people.”
Raisi also said Iran’s history of interaction with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and the agency’s numerous reports verifying the peaceful nature of the country’s nuclear activities proved the false claims leveled by some countries against Tehran.
“In order to prove its good will, the Islamic Republic of Iran has always highlighted professional cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency and we need to be vigilant about the enemies’ plots in this regard,” he said.
Pointing to Iran’s active role in the fight against terrorism alongside Iraq and Syria, Raisi said effective confrontation of the Islamic Republic, particularly efforts by top Iranian anti-terror commander General Qassem Soleimani, have prevented the Daesh terrorists from securing a foothold in Europe.
The French president, for his part, said that good progress has been made in the Vienna talks and expressed hope that the negotiations between Iran and the P4+1 group of countries would yield fruit as soon as possible.
The Iranian and French presidents also discussed the latest regional developments and the COVID-19 pandemic.