Diplomatic message from Iran ahead of negotiations with the US

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi made statements to the US press ahead of the 3rd round of negotiations between Iran and the US, which will be held on Thursday in Geneva, Switzerland.

Evaluating US President Donald Trump's rhetoric regarding a potential military intervention against Iran, Ravanchi said, "We hope not to face such a situation because a war that starts cannot be controlled. How can you end a war with a single strike? This is a real gamble from our perspective.

Our wish is that such a thing does not happen, but in any case, if there is any attack on Iran, we will respond within the framework of our defense planning. It may be possible to start a war, but it is not easy to end it. Furthermore, the entire region will suffer from the consequences of an attack on Iran," he said.

"We will continue within the same framework in Geneva"

Speaking about the format of the indirect negotiations conducted with the US, Ravanchi stated that the talks would continue within the framework determined in Muscat, the capital of Oman, and in Geneva, adding, "There will be no change in the process and we will continue as we have agreed. We usually start the talks indirectly through Oman. Last week in Geneva, International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi was also present. In the first stage, contacts were carried out indirectly through the Omani Foreign Minister and Grossi. Later, a brief handshake and a few minutes of direct conversation took place," he said.

"We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible"

Referring to the statement by Omani Foreign Minister Sayyid Badr bin Hamad al-Busaidi regarding the possibility of making progress toward finalizing an agreement in the indirect negotiations to be held between Iran and the US in Geneva, Switzerland, on Thursday, Ravanchi said, "We are ready to reach an agreement as soon as possible. We will do everything necessary for this to happen. We will enter the negotiation room in Geneva with full sincerity and good faith, and we hope that this good faith and positive approach will be reciprocated by the US. If the political will exists on all sides, in my opinion, an agreement can be reached as soon as possible," he stated.

"A lasting and real solution is only possible through diplomacy"

Touching upon the US deployment of military forces to the region, Ravanchi stated that Iran would not remain silent in the face of the possibility of a limited military attack, saying, "If the US attacks Iran, it cannot be expected that Iran will remain silent. In such a situation, we would be forced to respond to US assets and targets in the region. However, our primary preference is to move along the path of peace. Therefore, the next meeting to be held in Geneva carries great importance. Because diplomacy is in everyone's interest, and Iran's nuclear issue cannot be solved by military methods. Instead of war rhetoric and military buildup, dialogue should be preferred. Results cannot be achieved by threatening Iran. A lasting and real solution is only possible through diplomacy," he said.

News Source: 12punto