Qassemi Acknowledges Iranian Close Cooperation with Russia

Foreign Ministry spokesman Bahram Qassemi on Monday acknowledged Iranian close relations with Russia that could help further convergence in the region.

Qasemi made the remarks in his weekly press conference when asked to comment about a visit to Tehran by Special Envoy of Russian President on Syria Alexander Lavrentiev.

He said that strategic relations between Tehran and Moscow and developments in the region require such negotiations between the two countries.

 On a decision made by a number of Iranian lawmakers to present a bill to Majlis against the US breach of the nuclear deal, Qasemi said that it is the inalienable right of the lawmakers to do whatever they deem necessary in the context of the Iranian Constitution.

The US Senate on Thursday unanimously voted for extension of the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA) for another 10 years which runs counter to US commitments to JCPOA.

The US House of Representatives earlier voted for the ISA extension.

Russia not to use Iran military base for time being – Qasemi

There are no plans for Russia to use Iran’s military bases for the time being, Foreign Ministry Spokesman BahramQasemi said.

Talking to reporters on Monday, he said Iran and Russia have basic and grave cooperation in many areas and pursue common interests in the region.

He said the two countries have had cooperation in many decisive and crucial topics in the past and will continue to do so in the future.

He said the Russian use of Iranian military bases will depend on the situation emerging in future.

Iran not concerned with renewal of sanctions, says Qasemi

On the other hand, Foreign Minister Spokesman BahramQasemi said the Iranian government will defend the rights of its nation and is not concerned with renewal of sanctions.

During his Monday morning press briefing, the diplomat said that the violation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) is not an issue which could easily happen.

Asked about Sunday meeting between Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and the US Energy Minister Ernest Moniz in Vienna, Qasemi said such meetings are held on a regular basis and that the meeting between the Iranian and US officials was held for a certain reason.

Salehi and Moniz are currently in Vienna to take part in the International Conference on Nuclear Security to be held there December 5-9 by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

The spokesman also commented on the move made by the US Congress on December 1st for passing legislation to renew the Iran Sanctions Act (ISA).

That was nothing unusual with the US as a country which is used to having violent and non-realistic behavior towards other countries, Iran in particular and has made many bitter and irresponsible measures to the nation in the past 37 years.

He said that Tehran ‘is not going to go with predictions about the future actions of the next US government;’ rather, he said Tehran will wait to see the domestic developments inside the US.

 

Based on past experiences, he said, the US President Barack Obama was expected to veto the new US Congress decision but based on sporadic reports coming from the US, it seems that he is not willing to do so this time.

Referring to the Sunday remarks of President Hassan Rouhani regarding the JCPOA and how Tehran is to react to the US new move, Qasemi said the move by the US Congress was a clear disrespect to the previously made agreements and is totally unacceptable and a clear offense.

Qasemis said everybody knows that the JCPOA is not a bilateral agreement but a document between a number of major countries which included five world powers as well as 28 European countries given the presence of the head of European Union in the process.

He said the document has been endorsed by the United Nations Security Council and has the support of the Non-Aligned Movement member states and many other countries so it is not easy to violate the agreement.

He said the US, like other world countries, is not entitled and ‘has no power to move against the JCPOA and contradict it.’

IRNA

R.S