 "Iran blames US for military aggression, demands compensation in talks")
Iran said Monday that any future negotiations would hold the United States responsible for attacks on its nuclear installations, but that direct talks with Washington were out of the question.
On June 22, the United States briefly joined Israel’s battle against Iran, which had stalled discussions on Tehran’s nuclear program.
“In any potential negotiation… the issue of holding the United States accountable and demanding compensation for committing military aggression against Iran’s peaceful nuclear facilities will be one of the topics on the agenda,” foreign ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei told a press briefing on Monday.
Asked whether Iran would engage in direct talks with the United States, Baqaei said: “No.”
During the course of the 12-day battle, Israel began an unprecedented onslaught in mid-June that targeted Iranian military and nuclear installations while also striking civilian areas. US troops joined the attack by attacking nuclear facilities in Fordo, Isfahan, and Natanz.
The fighting halted negotiations that had begun in April and were the highest-level communication between Tehran and Washington since the US abandoned a major nuclear agreement with Iran in 2018.
Following the battle, Tehran stopped cooperation with the UN nuclear inspectors and wanted assurances against military action before restarting discussions.
Washington has slammed Tehran’s demand for compensation as “ridiculous”.
Baqaei said on Monday that Iran was committed to the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, but criticised what he described as the “politicised and unprofessional approach” of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Impact Shorts
More ShortsThe foreign ministry spokesman said that the IAEA’s deputy chief is expected in Iran “in less than 10 days”.
Last month, Iran said future cooperation with the UN agency would take on a “new form”.
On July 25, Iranian diplomats met with counterparts from Germany, Britain and France, in the first meeting since the war with Israel ended.
The three European powers are parties to the 2015 nuclear deal, which unravelled after the US withdrew during Trump’s first term.
In recent weeks, the trio has threatened to trigger sanctions if Tehran failed to agree a deal on uranium enrichment and cooperation with UN inspectors.
Iran has repeatedly called reimposing sanctions “illegal” and insisted on its right to enrich uranium.
Israel and Western nations accuse Iran of pursuing nuclear weapons, a charge Tehran has consistently denied.
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