TEHRAN -- Parliament speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf on Sunday called on the U.S. to stop following the “failed” policies of Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu if it wants to reach a nuclear deal with Tehran.
Ghalibaf made the remarks during an open parliamentary session on as the Islamic Republic is preparing a response to a new offer presented by the U.S. for a nuclear agreement.
He said the U.S. proposal does not even mention the lifting of anti-Iran sanctions, something that shows Washington’s contradictory behavior and lack of sincerity in indirect negotiations with Tehran.
“The U.S. smiles and talks about economic relief, but in practice, it seeks to deprive us of our international right to enrich uranium and does not even promise to lift sanctions as part of its bullying approach. It is clear that no rational logic would accept such a one-sided and imposed agreement,” he added.
“The delusional U.S. president should know that if he truly seeks a deal, he must change his approach, and stop coordinating with the Zionist regime and pursuing Netanyahu’s failed ideas.”
Ghalibaf also referred to a law, which was adopted by the Iranian Parliament in December 2020 to counter Western sanctions and promote the country’s peaceful nuclear program.
Under the legislation, dubbed the Strategic Action Plan to Counter Sanctions, Iran is ready to prove the peaceful nature of its nuclear activities, while maintaining enrichment on its soil, in exchange for the lifting of sanctions and economic benefits, he emphasized.
Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of indirect talks, mediated by Oman, on Iran’s nuclear program and the removal of US sanctions.
A few days after the fifth round of the negotiations, Oman presented elements of the U.S. proposal to Iran during a short visit to Tehran.
Some reports said the proposal would allow Tehran to enrich uranium at low levels for a temporary period. However, American officials said Iran should cease all its enrichment activities and instead rely on a regional consortium for supplies.
Speaking on Wednesday, Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei said Iran will not allow the U.S. to give a “green or red light” with its nuclear program and stressed the country’s “national independence.”