US breach of trust led to collapse of talks – Iranian diplomat

Tehran remains ready to negotiate in good faith, its consul general in Mumbai, Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh, has told RT India

A breach of trust by the US led to the collapse of the Islamabad talks to end the Middle East conflict, a top Iranian diplomat has told RT India.

Washington changed its approach and attempted to dictate its terms, saying that Iran has no right to uranium enrichment, Tehran’s consul general in Mumbai, Saeid Reza Mosayeb Motlagh, said in an interview on Tuesday.

Iran’s initial ten-point proposal, which the US had accepted as the basis of talks, included its peaceful nuclear rights, but Washington tried to impose its own terms, Motlagh said.

“If the intention was for the US to dictate and Iran to comply, then what was the point of all these wars and the surrounding hardships?” the diplomat asked.

This has led to “a deep mistrust by the Islamic Republic of Iran toward the United States,” he said, adding that Tehran “remains ready to negotiate… provided the discussions are realistic.”

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Motlagh said Iran has repeatedly stated that it does not seek to acquire nuclear weapons, and the US should take this into account.

“They have carried out the most stringent inspections of our nuclear facilities. Technical reports by inspectors show that Iran’s nuclear program has never deviated toward military purposes,” he said.

When asked whether a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz by the US would lead to a wider regional war, he said, “This depends on the decision of the US to act upon the directives and personal views of [Donald] Trump.”

Motlagh said Iran has taken steps to ensure that Indian energy supplies are not disrupted.

“Iranian forces… opened a passage for these vessels [India-bound]. Even now, they permit the passage of ships carrying energy and goods for the people of India.”

“As conditions become more complex, it may not always be possible. Naturally, no guarantees can be provided [to India],” he said.

Indian tankers that have transited through the Strait of Hormuz did not pay ‌a toll, Tehran’s ambassador to New Delhi, Mohammad Fathali, said on Monday.

Iran has said it will levy tolls on ships from “hostile” countries crossing the Strait of Hormuz as compensation for damage caused by sanctions and US-Israeli strikes.

Asked if Iran would welcome India stepping in diplomatically, Motlagh said, “We welcome the participation of any country that can make a constructive contribution to this process.”

On India’s Chabahar Port investment in Iran, he said, “The matter can proceed in accordance with existing agreements.”

He urged China and Russia not to withhold any effort toward achieving genuine global peace while taking into account the legitimate rights of all nations.

“We call upon the international community to prevent the unilateral and aimless actions of Mr. Trump, actions driven by personal ambitions and pressures from the Zionist regime,” Motlagh said.