Esmaeil Baqaei, spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry, has accused the United States of seeking to dictate its terms to Iran rather than engage in negotiations.
Tasnim News Agency reported early Thursday, October 22, that Baqaei made the remarks in response to recent statements by US officials concerning the religious beliefs of Iranians.
According to the report, Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson claimed that what makes rational negotiations impossible is not Iran’s “religious beliefs,” but the United States’ negotiating approach, which he said resembles the unilateral imposition of demands more than genuine diplomacy.
“One cannot expect the other side to make concessions while being unwilling to offer reciprocal concessions. One cannot dictate one’s demands, disregard the other side’s legitimate interests, and still expect a lasting agreement,” he said.
The remarks come as tensions between the United States and Iran have remained unresolved through negotiations and dialogue over the past several months.
