Iran Insists on Sanctions Removal, Nation’s Rights in Talks with US

By Staff, Agencies

Iranian government spokeswoman Fatemeh Mohajerani announced that Tehran welcomes any initiative that will lead to the lifting of sanctions and guarantee the nation's rights during the talks with the United States.

Speaking to IRNA on Sunday, Mohajerani said the trend of talks between Iran and the US has been positive so far.

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi and Steve Witkoff, the US president’s special envoy for West Asia affairs, led two rounds of indirect talks about Iran’s nuclear issue in the Omani capital of Muscat and the Italian capital, Rome, on April 12 and 19, respectively.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always acted based on national interests and maintenance of the Iranian people’s dignity, and it also follows the principles of wisdom and expediency,” Mohajerani said.

She noted that the Foreign Ministry is pursuing the talks within the framework of its duties and missions, emphasizing that the administration would not divert its focus from the main path of running the country.

She added that the indirect talks between Tehran and Washington, mediated by Oman, are being held in a constructive atmosphere, emphasizing that "The goal of these talks is to examine practical steps to reduce tensions and prepare the ground for technical talks in the future."

Speaking at the end of the second round of talks on Saturday, the Iranian foreign minister said Tehran and Washington had reached a “better understanding” on certain principles and goals.

Iran and the US agreed to open expert-level technical discussions in Oman on April 23. A third round of high-level indirect negotiations between Araghchi and Witkoff would kick off in Oman on April 26.

The Iranian foreign minister later said in a post on his X account that the latest round of indirect talks with the United States in Rome yielded progress on principles of a potential agreement, warning, though, that any sense of optimism has to be accompanied by great caution.

“We made clear how many in Iran believe that the JCPOA is no longer good enough for us. To them, what is left from that deal are ‘lessons learned.’ Personally, I tend to agree,” Araghchi said, referring to the 2015 nuclear deal – formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action [JCPOA].