Raeisi: US, E3 made grave miscalculations during recent riots in Iran

Iran's President Seyyed Ebrahim Raeisi says the United States and the three European signatories to the 2015 nuclear deal made grave miscalculations by instigating the recent riots in Iran, stressing that their ongoing bids to tarnish the Islamic Republic’s image are all doomed to failure.

According to Press TV, Raeisi made the remarks in a Thursday meeting with a group of foreign ambassadors to the Islamic Republic on the occasion of the 44th anniversary of the Islamic Revolution's victory.

He added that Iran, in spite of the Western sides’ failure to honor their commitments under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), has always declared its readiness to finalize the Vienna negotiations, voiced eagerness to work out a good and fair agreement on the revival of the 2015 deal and removal of sanctions, and exhibited goodwill.

“The US and the three European countries [which are signatories to the accord] were caught up in a state of delusion and made miscalculations [during recent riots in Iran]. As acknowledged by their officials, they opted to meddle in Iran’s domestic affairs … to wriggle out of their commitments than to seize the available opportunity and negotiate a return to their obligations,” Raeisi pointed out.

The Iranian president added, “Over the past few months, we have seen a new wave of hybrid foreign plots and interference by some Western countries in Iran's internal developments. Having relied on sanctions and misinformation by enemies and opponents of the Iranian nation, these countries have stood up against the honorable and resilient Iranian nation. They have been waging one of the most overt forms of psychological and hybrid warfare.”

He noted that during the recent unrest, some tried to tarnish Iran’s global image through completely misleading information, adding that such attempts are still underway, but are all doomed to “ignominious” defeat.

Raeisi went on to highlight an improvement in the status of Iranian women and their participation in different areas, citing statistics that show significant breakthrough in women’s social roles and gender equality.

He pointed to the significant increase in the number of female academic personnel in Iranian universities, stating that women's illiteracy rate in Iran now stands at less than 10%. He said Iranian women have made up 56 percent of university entrants, and that women have a strong presence in knowledge-based companies.

“The Islamic Republic of Iran has always shown its adherence to and respect for the principles of human rights ... Our approach to human rights is not based on political objectives and gains, but rather rooted in our beliefs,” Raeisi said.

“We are ready to have mutual talks with different countries about human rights. Respect for human rights is not a one-way street,” the Iranian president said, adding,” So-called advocates of human rights in the West must be held accountable for their abysmal records. Double standards and discriminatory [approaches] will fail to improve the status of human rights, and will instead pose serious threats to human principles. It also erodes trust in international institutions,” the Iranian president said.

He underlined that arrogant powers, particularly the US and certain Western countries, insist on their imperialist stances and refuse to understand realities in Iran. This accounts for their strategic mistakes and the flawed policies they have pursued against Iran and the region, he said.

FM: Iran welcomes negotiations, but will not engage in talks for sake of talks

Also at the Thursday meeting, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said the Islamic Republic will remain on the path of diplomacy as long as long as tangible and practical goals are on the agenda of negotiations on the revival of the JCPOA, but will not engage in talks just for the sake of talks.

The top Iranian diplomat highlighted that Tehran attaches paramount importance to diplomacy and negotiations, and has not detached itself from the negotiating table.

“We have declared to the White House officials that they should choose between official messages relayed through diplomatic channels on taking the final step on the agreement and paradoxical statements published by media outlets,” Amir-Abdollahian noted.

Double standards and hypocritical stances will not be helpful, he said, adding that the Islamic Republic of Iran will support diplomacy and negotiations in a respectful, powerful and sustainable manner once the other side decides sincerely and realistically to return to its commitments under the JCPOA.

Iran has continued to denounce Washington’s “paradoxical approach” in the course of talks to revive the 2015 nuclear deal.

“Their stances are negative, while their behavior and messages, sent via intermediaries, are something else,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Nasser Kan’ani said on December 26.

ME