Iran reaffirms peaceful nature of its nuke program

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araqchi declared that the country's nuclear energy program has always been and will always be completely peaceful, according to local sources here today. 

The official news agency Irna reproduced Monday statements by the Persian Foreign Minister where he emphasized that negotiating is different from intimidating and giving orders, in relation to recent statements by US President Donald Trump to the Fox network, where he said he had sent a letter to the Iranian Supreme Leader requesting negotiations, but imposing his conditions.

The Irna agency also notes that the Iranian Foreign Minister informed that his country is currently in consultations with three European countries, and separately with Russia and China, under conditions of equality and mutual respect.

The aim, the minister added, is to explore ways to generate greater confidence and transparency about Iran’s nuclear energy program in exchange for the removal of illegal sanctions.

Meanwhile, the Islamic Republic of Iran’s Mission to the United Nations announced that if the purpose of the negotiations is to address concerns about the possible militarization of Iran’s nuclear program, ‘that is something that can be considered; but if the goal is to dismantle Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, such negotiations will never take place.