Iran Will Not Negotiate Missile Programme: Araghchi

TEHRAN, Feb 7 (Bernama-IRNA) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Tehran will not negotiate over its missile programme, describing it as a purely defensive matter, the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA) reported.

Speaking in an interview with Al Jazeera, Araghchi said Iran’s recent talks with Washington marked “a good starting point”, but emphasised that there is still a long way ahead for confidence-building.

He underlined that the negotiations held a day earlier were indirect and limited exclusively to the nuclear issue.

“The issue of banning enrichment is not negotiable from Iran’s point of view,” the foreign minister said, adding that uranium enrichment is Iran’s right and must continue.

“They were not able to eliminate Iran’s capabilities in this field even through bombing,” he said.

At the same time, Araghchi said Iran is ready to reach a reliable agreement regarding enrichment.

Addressing Iran’s missile programme, Araghchi reiterated: “Neither now nor in the future can negotiations be held over missiles, because this is a defensive issue.”

He also stressed that Iran’s nuclear file can only be resolved through negotiations.

The foreign minister also addressed Iran’s response to any potential US attack, saying: “If Iran is attacked, we will target US bases in the region.”

He made clear that Iran would not attack neighbouring countries, drawing a distinction “between attacking bases and attacking neighbouring states”.

Araghchi further noted that the possibility of war always exists, adding that Iran is prepared for such a scenario.

The new round of indirect nuclear talks between Iran and the US began on Friday morning in Muscat with the mediation of the Oman and concluded several hours later.

During the talks, the Iranian and US negotiating teams conveyed a set of views, considerations and approaches to one another through Oman’s foreign minister.

-- BERNAMA-IRNA