TEHRAN -- The spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry has said that Tehran is ready to implement the agreement on exchange of prisoners with Washington, adding it is “up to the U.S. administration” to decide whether or not it wants to keep its end of the deal.
“We have already voiced our readiness to exchange inmates with the US, and we are still ready to do so. Negotiations have been conducted in different ways over the matter, and parties have reached the necessary agreements. It is now up to the US administration to decide whether it wants to implement this agreement or not. We are prepared to enforce it,” Nasser Kanaani told ISNA in an interview published on Sunday.
The agreement was reached in Vienna on the sidelines of negotiations concerning the Iran deal, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), with world powers.
Tehran has repeatedly said it is ready for prisoner exchange with the United States based on the agreement and independently of the nuclear deal, which the US unilaterally abandoned in May 2018 despite Iran’s full and strict compliance.
Kanaani stressed that the Islamic Republic will never sacrifice its own political independence for the sake of certain diplomatic relations, roundly dismissing allegations that Russia is obstructing the Vienna talks on the JCPOA revival and removal of sanctions against Tehran.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran will not sacrifice its political independence for the sake of relations with any other countries. The same approach is also being exercised throughout the sanctions removal talks. Russia is a signatory to the JCPOA, and has naturally participated in the negotiation process and made comments,” he said.
Kanaani also rejected claims that Russia has asked Iran to delay the agreement until a later time in the winter. The spokesman further dismissed allegations that Russia is obstructing the Vienna talks, stressing that it is the U.S. side that must take on its responsibility, and contribute to the conclusion of the accord.
“The fact that America occasionally tends to level allegations against the Islamic Republic of Iran and Russia is simply a blame game,” Kanaani said.
The spokesman said Russia and China have facilitated and are assisting the advancement of Vienna talks.
“The U.S. government is a party that has left the negotiations, and is now inventing excuses and obstructing the conclusion of the final agreement. It is worth mentioning that the political independence of the Islamic Republic of Iran is so important that it will not be influenced by the political view of any other country,” Kanaani said.
The United States, under former president Donald Trump, abandoned the agreement in May 2018 and reinstated unilateral sanctions that the agreement had lifted.
The talks to salvage the agreement kicked off in the Austrian capital city of Vienna in April last year, months after Joe Biden succeeded Trump, with the intention of examining Washington’s seriousness in rejoining the deal and removing anti-Iran sanctions.
The top Iranian diplomat also called on Saudi Arabia to adopt serious measures on humanitarian grounds and release Iranian national Khalil Dardmand, who was arrested by Saudi forces in the holy city of Mecca in July.