Envoy: U.S. Seeks Unconditional Surrender, Not Negotiation
NEW YORK (Dispatches) -- Iran’s ambassador to the United Nations asserted that “unconditional surrender” cannot be considered negotiation, emphasizing the futility of engaging in talks with the U.S. if they continue to dictate conditions on Iran.
“Negotiation has its principles, and it is a give-and-take process. So we should engage in the negotiation and discuss with each other, maybe we reach a conclusion or not, but the unconditional surrender is not negotiation,” Amir Saeid Iravani said in an interview with CBS News television channel on Sunday.
“If they are ready for negotiation, they will find us ready for that, but if they want to dictate to us, it is impossible for any negotiation with them.”
Iravani also reiterated that Iran will not halt uranium enrichment by any means.
He said although the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) inspectors in Iran remain secure, they are currently prohibited from accessing any nuclear sites in the country as their activities have been temporarily halted.
“They are in Iran and are in a secure situation, but their activities have been suspended. They are not allowed to access our sites. They have not performed their duties,” he said.