TEHRAN – Iran remains committed to diplomacy with the United States, the government said on Monday, after a fourth round of nuclear talks with Washington due in Rome on May 3 was postponed for “logistical reasons”.
“We have announced our commitment to continuing the path of dialogue and diplomacy, and we have shown our full readiness by participating in several rounds of negotiations,” Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baghaei said.
The spokesperson added that Tehran is flexible regarding the timing of talks and is waiting for details from mediator Oman regarding the next round of negotiations with the U.S.
“What matters for us is the behavior and stances of the U.S. negotiating team,” Baghaei said, adding that contradictory statements from U.S. officials are “unhelpful” and will not impact Tehran’s determination to defend its fundamental positions, including its right to enrich uranium domestically.
On Thursday, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran should import enriched uranium for its nuclear program rather than having the ability to enrich uranium at home.
Baghaei said that “many issues are already resolved if there is truth in the U.S. demand that the Islamic Republic should not possess nuclear weapons.”
Tehran is also ready to reschedule a round of nuclear talks with Britain, France and Germany, Baghaei said, after talks between Iran and the three European countries planned in Italy on May 2 were also postponed.
The spokesman stressed that Iran’s indirect talks with the U.S. only cover the nuclear issues and the removal of sanctions, warning that certain irrelevant demands would not be helpful at all.
Baghaei touched on Defense Minister Brigadier General Aziz Nasirzadeh’s remarks  about U.S. bases in the region being a legitimate target in case Iran is attacked.
He said the defense minister had placed emphasis on Iran’s brotherly ties with regional countries and that Tehran’s foreign policy is based on good neighborliness and friendship with all the countries in the region.
“All countries are duty-bound to prevent a third party’s action against another country. If a move is taken from the territory of a country against Iran’s territory, that point will constitute a legitimate target”, Baghaei said.