Iranian Deputy FM Hamid Ghanbari has said that cooperation in high-yield sectors would make an agreement between Tehran and Washington more long – lasting
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Hamid Ghanbari has said that for any potential agreement with Iran to be long – standing, the US should gain economic benefits from it.
In recent weeks, tensions between the two countries have increased. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to take military action against the Islamic Republic and has deployed additional naval and aerial resources to the region. The White House has demanded that Iran dismantle its nuclear program and reduce its ballistic missile capabilities.
Earlier this month, Washington and Tehran had indirect talks in Oman, which Iran described as a “good start.” A second round of talks is expected to be held in Geneva in the coming days.
Speaking on Sunday, Ghanbari said that the discussions so far have covered shared interests in oil and gas extraction, as well as mining and aircraft purchases. According to Fars news agency, the Iranian official was quoted as saying that Washington should get real economic benefits from any potential bilateral agreement to ensure its effectiveness.
Ghanbari pointed out that the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, from which the US unilaterally withdrew under Trump in 2018, failed because it did not consider such economic incentives for Washington.
Last week, Iranian atomic energy chief Mohammad Eslami said that his country could agree to dilute its stockpile of highly enriched uranium in exchange for the removal of all sanctions imposed on the country.
At the same time, Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has rejected the idea that Iran would completely give up its uranium enrichment capacity, even under the threat of war. The diplomat also previously said that Iran’s “purely defensive” missile program is not up for negotiation.
Earlier this month, Araghchi warned that if the US attacks Iran, Iran will strike American bases in the Middle East.
On Sunday, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that any US – Iran deal should require Tehran to abandon its uranium enrichment program and limit the range of Iranian ballistic missiles to 300 kilometers (186 miles).