US insincerity to ruin chances for Russian summit on Iran: Spokesman

The spokesperson for the Iranian government said a seven-way online summit of the UN Security Council permanent members, Germany and Iran, proposed by the president of Russia, is unlikely to produce results as the US government lacks any sincere intention.

According to Tasnim news agency, in written reply to questions from the Iranian journalists as part of a weekly press conference, the government’s Spokesman Ali Rabi'ee commented on a recent proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin to hold an online summit with the US, Britain, France, China, Germany and Iran in a bid to avoid confrontation at the United Nations.

“We are aware of Mr. Putin’s goodwill in de-escalation of tensions, but at the same time believe it is unlikely that such summit would be effective in the absence of sincere intentions of the US administration,” he noted.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s stance is totally clear. Irrespective of the speculations, whenever all parties receive a formal request for the proposed summit, we will consider it seriously and announce the final decision,” the spokesperson added.

He also noted that a recent voting at the UN Security Council that rejected a US-initiated resolution on the extension of the arms embargo on Iran indicated that the views of Iran and the other P4+1 members on Washington’s law-breaking and bullying polices are crystal clear.

Maybe the US president lacks the courage to take part in any other meeting, as he is confident of the US’ isolation, Rabi'ee stated.

He then hit back at US President Donald Trump for his allegation that the Iranian government masks a regime behind the false guise of a democracy, noting, “The Iranian nation, along with the international community, gave the US a harsh lesson. Now, this is Trump that has been unmasked at the United Nations and the international arena.”

On the August 4 blast in Beirut, Rabi'ee said Iran is worried that the tragic incident would become a pretext for foreign interference in Lebanon and the plots to control Lebanon’s internal affairs, according to the government’s official website.

“We call on everybody to avoid political opportunism in dealing with the incident,” he noted.

Iran favors stronger international cooperation, including with the European states, to help the Lebanese people overcome the crisis, Rabi'ee added, but underlined that the foreign governments should work in coordination with the Lebanese government and nation.

ME