Ahead of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s trip to Washington for meetings that are anticipated to center on US negotiations with Tehran, Iran issued a warning on Tuesday about its “destructive” effect on diplomacy.
“America is our negotiating party. Esmail Baqaei, the spokesperson for Iran’s foreign ministry, stated in a weekly press conference that “America must choose to act without being influenced by the destructive forces and pressures that are harmful to the region.”
“As a saboteur, the Zionist regime has repeatedly demonstrated that it is against any diplomatic process that brings about peace in our region.”
Months after previous conversations broke down in the wake of Israel’s historic bombing campaign against Iran in June of last year, which set off a 12-day conflict, Tehran and Washington resumed their discussions in Muscat on Friday.
Israel targeted residential areas, nuclear scientists and sites, and senior Iranian military personnel during the battle.
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Later on, the United States joined the campaign by attacking important nuclear facilities in Iran.
Iran retaliated by attacking Israel with drones and missiles as well as by focusing on Qatar, home of the biggest US military installation in the Middle East.
“The June experience wasn’t good at all. Thus, considering these experiences, we are committed to using diplomacy to protect Iran’s national interests,” Baqaei stated.
In exchange for the lifting of sanctions, he demanded that Iran’s attention be only on the nuclear dossier.
Tehran has stated on numerous occasions that it opposes any discussions that go beyond that matter.
According to a statement released by Netanyahu’s office on Saturday, the Israeli prime minister “thinks any negotiations must include limitations on ballistic missiles and a halting of the support for the Iranian axis”—a reference to Iran’s regionally affiliated military groups.
The negotiations came following Iran’s fatal crackdown on anti-government protesters last month, which prompted warnings from Washington and the sending of a US aircraft carrier group to the area.
Iranian officials asserted that the protests, which started in late December over the growing cost of living, started out as nonviolent gatherings before degenerating into “riots” that included murders and vandalism, which they said were sparked by Israel and the United States.
