Israel sabotage a ‘promising agreement’ between Iran and US: Araghchi

GENEVA: Iran Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi on Friday condemned the Israeli attacks against the Islamic republic as a “betrayal of diplomatic efforts” with the US, saying Tehran and Washington had been due to craft a “promising agreement” on the Iranian nuclear programme.

“We were attacked in the midst of an ongoing diplomatic process,” Araghchi told the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva ahead of a crunch meeting with European foreign ministers.

He said, “We were supposed to meet with the Americans on June 15 to draft a very promising agreement regarding our nuclear programme.”

IRANIAN PEOPLE

At the same time, the Iranian top diplomat promised to defend Iran’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. “The Iranian people will continue defending their motherland.”

Read more: It is all about Balkanization of Iran, not Iranian nuclear programme

In this connection, he made it clear that Iran was responding to the Israeli aggression according to the UN Charter, which extended this right to every country.

Earlier in the day, Araghchi ruled out any discussion on Iranian ballistic missile programme, saying no rational mind can accept that Tehran negotiate with anyone about its missile capabilities, which are “extraordinary and defensive” in nature.

He told the state TV that Iran’s talks with the E3 – France, Germany and Italy – in Geneva will focus solely on nuclear and regional issues, and that Iranian ballistic missile programme is non-negotiable.

WAR CRIMES

In his address, the foreign minister reminded the UN Human Rights Council that Israel’s strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and innocent civilian population were war crimes.

Before reaching Geneva for a crucial round of talks, Araghchi had urged the UN Security Council to follow its own resolution. “As the Security Council convenes today, it is imperative that it upholds and enforces its own Resolution 487 – adopted unanimously in response to the Israeli regime’s 1981 attack on Iraq’s nuclear facility.”