Uranium Enrichment Right and Removal of Sanctions Were on Iran’s Agenda in Istanbul Talks: Deputy Foreign Minister

Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi says that ending the “oppressive sanctions” and upholding Iran’s rights under the Non-Proliferation Treaty (N.P.T.), including the right to uranium enrichment, were central to Iran’s agenda in the meeting with the European troika.

Takht-e-Ravanchi is in Istanbul to partake in discussions between Iran and the E3 – the European members of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (J.C.P.O.A.): Germany, Britain, and France. He made the remarks in a press briefing following the meeting on Friday.

He said the meeting was a continuation of the previous rounds, but with the significant development that Iran had been attacked by the Israeli regime and the United States.

According to Takht-e-Ravanchi, the Iranian side said in the meeting that the attacks were in clear violation of international law and the U.N. Charter and criticized the positions taken by these countries regarding the attacks.

Another issue addressed in the meeting was the return of sanctions and the snapback mechanism, he said, adding that Iran voiced strong opposition to these measures and added that Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi had sent a letter to the U.N. chief, which has been distributed all the members of the U.N. Security Council.

Prior to the talks, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmaeil Baqaei said that the meeting provided a valuable opportunity for the E3 to revise their stance on Iran’s nuclear program and served as a test of their realism toward the matter.