Araghchi: Iran will respond

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has arrived in New York, U.S., to attend the 80th United Nations (UN) General Assembly. In his statement, Araghchi made assessments regarding Iran's nuclear program, cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), the snapback mechanism process, and diplomatic contacts to be held with European countries.

Stating that they are attending the UN General Assembly to explain Iran's position and defend the rights of its people, Araghchi said, "This year's General Assembly is being held following the attacks by the Zionist regime and the U.S. What makes this meeting important is to explain the rightful stance of the Iranian people and their 12 days of resistance to the world, and to demonstrate the peaceful nature of the nuclear program and that Iran is peace-loving but can defend itself strongly when necessary."

"I WILL MEET WITH GROSSI"

Expressing that he will conduct intense diplomatic traffic in New York, Araghchi said, "I will have many bilateral meetings and sessions today. One of them is the Davos meeting, and the other is the meeting I will have with IAEA Director General Rafael Grossi. In this meeting, we will discuss the latest status of Iran's nuclear program, the cooperation agreement between Iran and the Agency, and the snapback mechanism process currently on the agenda of the UN Security Council. Additionally, meetings with the UK, Germany, and France have been proposed. I see this process as a suitable opportunity for final consultations regarding the snapback."

"IF SNAPBACK IS TRIGGERED, IRAN WILL RESPOND"

Touching upon the agreement Iran made with the IAEA, Araghchi said, "If the snapback is implemented, the agreement will also lose its validity. The agreement was made under the conditions that emerged after the attack. For this reason, if the snapback is triggered, we will face new conditions, and in such a situation, Iran will respond."

Stating that he will also meet with his European counterparts, Araghchi noted that this is a period when the other side must decide whether to choose cooperation or opposition. Araghchi said, "They have tested Iran at different times, and they now know that we will not respond to pressure and threats, but to the language of respect and dignity. If there is a solution, it is only a diplomatic solution."

Stating that the current situation stems from the U.S. withdrawal from the nuclear deal, Araghchi said, "Iran has proven many times that it is a country that prefers diplomacy. We have always stated that we are ready for a diplomatic solution, but this solution must secure the interests of the Iranian people and our security concerns."