PNN – Islamic Republic of Iran’s Foreign Minister said: Iran has never requested a ceasefire or negotiations to end the war.
According to the report of Pakistan News Network, Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, Islamic Republic of Iran’s Foreign Minister, said in an interview with CBS: Iran has never requested a ceasefire or negotiations in this regard, and I am ready to defend our country whenever needed.
The full text of Foreign Minister of Islamic Republic of Iran’s speech is as follows:
Margaret Brennan: Minister Sir, Donald Trump said this weekend that he’s not ready to make a deal with Iran yet because, he said, the conditions aren’t right. His administration says this war could go on for another three and a half weeks. Has Iran asked for a ceasefire?
Araqchi: No, we have never asked for a ceasefire, and we have never even asked for negotiations. We are ready to defend ourselves as much as necessary. We have done so far and we will continue to do so until President Trump concludes that this is an illegal and unwinnable war. As you know, people are being killed just because President Trump wants to have fun. That is what he himself said.
Margaret Brennan: Have fun?
Araqchi: Yes, that’s what he said; that sinking ships and targeting different places is fun for them. The Secretary of War also said there will be no mercy, and even saying that is actually a war crime. So this is a war that President Trump and the United States have started on their own, and we will continue to defend ourselves.
Margaret Brennan: That may be your position, but Mr. Minister, this is a war for survival for your government. Don’t you have to negotiate and communicate, either directly or through a third party?
Araqchi: No, this is not a war of survival. We are stable and powerful enough. We are only defending our people against this act of aggression. We see no reason to talk to the Americans, because when they decided to attack us, we were negotiating with them. And this is the second time. We do not have a good experience of talking to the Americans. We were negotiating; so why did they decide to attack us? So what is the point of returning to the negotiating table again?
Margaret Brennan: You mention diplomacy with President Trump’s son-in-law, Jared Kushner, and his representative, Whitaker. But let’s continue this. Iran is sending drones and missiles to your neighbors, your allies in the Persian Gulf. Before the war, your administration had trade and relations with them. How is your administration going to trade again with countries that you are now sending drones to and targeting civilian targets after this war?
Araqchi: Obviously, these countries have given their territory to American forces to attack us from there. What should we do? Should we just sit back and watch American forces attack us from their soil?
Margaret Brennan: But your drones are entering civilian areas and targeting factories, hotels, and civilians.
Araqchi: No, no, that’s not true. We only target American assets, American installations, and American military bases. Whatever is targeted belongs to the United States. The fact is that the territory of these countries is used. There are many examples. Just yesterday they attacked our islands with short-range HIMARS artillery rockets and used the territory of the UAE to attack us. About a week ago, three F-15 fighter jets were shot down in Kuwait, apparently by friendly fire. But no one asks what they were doing in Kuwait. They were using the airspace of a neighboring and friendly country to attack us. So obviously we cannot remain silent about this.
Margaret Brennan: Many of these countries are part of the US Central Command. But the issue is that in the long run it will hurt your country. When we talk about the Strait of Hormuz, which is a vital passage for global trade, you have said that it is closed to Israel and the United States. The Financial Times reported that European diplomats from France and Italy are talking to your government about the safe passage of their ships. Are you ready to resume the passage of oil and gas ships through there?
Araqchi: We are ready to talk to countries that talk to us about the safe passage of their ships. This depends on the decision of our military forces.
Margaret Brennan: So you’re negotiating with France and Italy?
Araqchi: I can’t name any specific countries, but a number of countries have contacted us to ensure the safe passage of their ships. The final decision lies with our military forces. They have already allowed a group of ships belonging to different countries to pass safely.
We ensure their safe passage because we have not closed the strait. The ships themselves do not enter the region due to the insecurity caused by the American aggression.
Margaret Brennan: I want to ask again about the negotiations. Iran has announced that it has about 440 kilograms of nuclear material. Where is that material now? Who has control over it?
Araqchi: We have not announced it; this amount has been confirmed and announced by the Agency.
Margaret Brennan: That’s right.
Araqchi: This is not a secret. The Agency has announced the exact amount of our enriched nuclear material in its numerous reports.
Margaret Brennan: So where are they now? Who has them?
Araqchi: They are under the rubble. Our nuclear facilities were attacked and everything is under the rubble. Of course, it is possible to recover them, but only under the supervision of the Agency. If one day we decide to recover them, it will be done under the supervision of the Agency. But right now we have no plan or plan to get them out of the rubble.
Margaret Brennan: Let me make sure I understand. You said that 48 hours before the US strikes, you had personally offered to Trump’s negotiators to dilute that 440 kilograms of 60 percent enriched uranium. You said that Iran was prepared to give it up. That was in the agreement that Oman had also presented to Vice President Vance. Is Iran prepared to give up that enriched uranium today?
Araqchi: That was one of the elements of the agreement that we were negotiating with the American parties. That part was related to Iran’s 60 percent enriched material. I suggested that we were ready to dilute that material and bring it to a lower percentage. That was a big offer and an important concession to show that Iran has never sought and will never seek nuclear weapons.
Margaret Brennan: Are you willing to do it now?
Araqchi: Nothing is on the table right now. Everything depends on the future. If in the future we decide to enter into negotiations with the US or other parties, then we will decide what to put on the table. Right now, nothing is on the table.
Margaret Brennan: At least four Americans are being held in Evin Prison, including a journalist named Reza Valizadeh and Kamran Hekmati, 61. What is the status of these Americans? Are they safe?
Araqchi: If America and Israel don’t attack our prisons, I think they are safe.
Margaret Brennan: Secretary, we’re running out of time, and I see your internet is also going off and on. I just want to point out that you’re speaking to us via Zoom, and the Iranian people don’t have free access to the internet, but you do. Why?
Araqchi: Because I am the voice of the Iranian people and I must defend their rights. That is why I have access to the Internet so that our voice can be heard by the international community. The Internet is closed for security reasons, because we are under attack and aggression and we must do everything to protect our people. In any country, urgent measures like this are taken during a war.