Iran: U.S. must prove sincerity and address sanctions (Full Transcript)
[00:00:00] Speaker 1: The ball is in America's court. I mean, they have to prove that they want to have a deal with us. And if there is a sincerity, if we see a sincerity on their part, I'm sure that we will be on a road to have an agreement. We are ready to discuss this and other issues related to our program, provided that they are ready also to talk about the sanctions. Because sanctions, as we call it, illegal sanctions, that, you know, those sanctions have to be also on the table. One cannot accept the notion that Iran has to do certain things without the other side committing itself to do their share.
[00:00:43] Speaker 2: Are you optimistic a deal can be reached?
[00:00:47] Speaker 1: It is too early to say whether we will reach an agreement. You know, after one round, one cannot say for sure. Bearing in mind the fact that we experienced a war in the middle of negotiations, so one meeting is not enough to assure us that the other side is serious.
[00:01:05] Speaker 2: American military might is building in the region. Would that battle be existential for Iran?
[00:01:13] Speaker 1: It will be traumatic. Existential? Bad for everybody. It is not as if that Iran will suffer only. Everybody will suffer, particularly those who have initiated this aggression. If we feel, if we feel that this is an existential threat, we will respond accordingly.
- Iran conditions progress on U.S. demonstrating sincerity and willingness to lift or discuss sanctions.
- Tehran frames sanctions as illegal and insists they be part of negotiations alongside its program.
- Iran is not yet optimistic after one round, citing prior negotiations disrupted by war.
- Iran warns a military confrontation would be traumatic and damaging to all parties, particularly initiators.
- Iran signals it will respond strongly if it perceives an existential threat.