Iran Always Ready for Dialogue to Resolve Foreign Disagreements

EghtesadOnline: Iran believes that its disputes with other countries should be resolved through dialogue and is ready to hold talks regarding disputes with the US administration if it revises its approach, President Hassan Rouhani said on Saturday.

News ID: ۷۴۹۲۵۷

22 December 2019

"Today, as in the past, we detest war and we are willing to settle any problem with any country through negotiations," he said in a meeting with senior Japanese political, economic and cultural officials, according to the English text of his speech published on his website.

Rouhani became the first Iranian president to visit Japan since 2000. The trip was seen as an effort to break the impasse over Tehran's 2015 nuclear deal with six nations—officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action—which is enshrined in a UN Security Council resolution.

Friction between Tehran and Washington has increased since last year when US President Donald Trump pulled out of the agreement and reimposed sanctions on the country, which have negatively affected its economy, Financial Tribune reported.

"We have no problem with talking with the US about our problems if the Americans return from the wrong path that they have taken in the past 1.5 years," Rouhani said.

"We should not hail someone who has done something wrong and violated the law, but in the meantime, we should not close the door and should give the violator the opportunity to compensate for what he has done."

He said the Americans have made miscalculations not only about Iran but also about Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Yemen and Palestine.

The president criticized US sanctions, saying that they have hindered Iranians' access to life-saving medicine.

The United States claims that its embargoes do not target humanitarian transactions, but financial and banking restrictions have practically hit Iran's healthcare sector.

Iran-Japan Ties

In his speech, Rouhani hailed friendly ties between Tehran and Tokyo, saying, "Iran's doors are always open to the Japanese government and companies."

He added that the two countries should not allow third countries to disrupt Iran-Japan relations.

"Japanese companies have a very good reputation in Iran and Iranians trust Japanese industry and companies. We can have good cooperation in the fields of infrastructures, environment, humanitarian issues, food and medicine. Japanese companies can also invest in Iran and we can give them the required commitments in this regard."

These "illegal" sanctions cannot continue in the long run and the Americans will have no choice but to abandon the "futile" path of sanctions, the president said.