Title: Iran’s Envoy Urges West to Move Beyond “Failed” Resolutions and Embrace Genuine Diplomacy
In a firm address on the state of international diplomacy, a senior Iranian diplomat has articulated Iran’s consistent readiness for negotiation while critiquing Western powers for a “diplomatic deficit” and an over-reliance on pressure tactics that have repeatedly failed on the world stage.
A Call for Balanced Negotiations
Ambassador and Deputy Foreign Minister, Kazem Gharibabadi, emphasized that Iran has never left the negotiating table. “Iran has always been present at the negotiation table and has never withdrawn from talks,” he stated.
However, he clarified that dialogue requires mutual effort. “Negotiation has its own requirements and its conditions must be met. Negotiation is a two-way street, not a one-way path,” Gharibabadi explained. He criticized certain parties for speaking of dialogue while failing to create its necessary conditions and instead seeking to impose unilateral demands. “This is not negotiation, and the Islamic Republic of Iran has announced this repeatedly,” he said, underscoring that Iran is in no hurry to engage in talks where only the imposition of demands is on the agenda.
The West’s Diplomatic Failures
Turning to the upcoming meeting of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors, Gharibabadi addressed the potential for a new resolution against Iran by the three European countries and the United States. He pointed to their previous attempt to activate the “snapback” mechanism of the JCPOA as a failure in diplomacy.
“For the first time, they failed within the framework of diplomacy because the majority of the international community did not support their request,” he stated, noting that 121 member states of the Non-Aligned Movement, alongside permanent UN Security Council members China and Russia, opposed the move. “Now these countries want to compensate for their failure at the Board of Governors,” he added.
Gharibabadi questioned the rationale behind further pressure, pointing out that Iran’s nuclear facilities have been attacked. “Instead of being held accountable, they are trying to pressure Iran,” he said.
Questioning the Purpose of Resolutions
While acknowledging that a resolution might pass due to the Western majority in such forums, the Iranian diplomat posed a critical question: “What problem does such a resolution want to solve? Iran has always cooperated with the Agency.”
He argued that issuing a resolution would only exacerbate problems and complicate the situation. “In reality, these countries should be the ones held accountable, not increasing pressure on Iran,” Gharibabadi asserted. He expressed confidence that the Board of Governors is not a venue where Western nations can achieve their political objectives through such measures.
Cooperation Overshadowed by Political Objectives
Gharibabadi further elaborated on Iran’s extensive cooperation with the IAEA, dismissing the notion that Western powers are genuinely interested in such technical engagement. “They have defined political objectives for themselves and are pursuing the exertion of pressure,” he said. “Iran’s interaction with the IAEA, modalities, and the implementation of safeguards are of no importance to them.”
This stance, he warned, would inevitably lead to a strategic reassessment by Iran. “If this is the case, naturally the Islamic Republic of Iran will also reconsider its approaches following the issuance of a resolution.” He made it clear that this reassessment would not pertain to the now-defunct “Cairo Understanding,” but would manifest in other diplomatic and strategic domains, as Iran responds to the message that its cooperation is not valued.