Iranian FM Condemns Sanctions, Discusses Cooperation with Nicaragua
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Iran's Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian condemned the sanctions imposed by the United States and some Western countries against Iranian individuals and entities during a meeting with Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega.
Despite the obstacles posed by the sanctions, Amirabdollahian emphasized that the Islamic Republic has managed to progress through the active contributions of women and youths, guided by the Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei.
Amirabdollahian also touched on the Vienna negotiations to revive the 2015 nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), and removal of sanctions. He stated that Washington has been persistently communicating with Tehran.
“Given our Iranian and Islamic culture, we have never left the negotiating table. Nevertheless, we will pursue the country's national interests in a dignified manner during any round of talks,” he stressed.
The talks to salvage the JCPOA kicked off in the Austrian capital city of Vienna in April 2021, with the intention of examining Washington’s seriousness in rejoining the deal and removing anti-Iran sanctions.
The negotiations have been at a standstill since August 2022 due to Washington’s insistence on its hard-nosed position of not removing all the sanctions that were slapped on the Islamic Republic by the previous US administration.
Iran maintains it is necessary for the other side to offer some guarantees that they will remain committed to any agreement that is reached.
Meanwhile, the Iranian Foreign Minister expressed Tehran's eagerness to enhance its relationship with Managua in various fields and set no limits to the promotion of cooperation. Top diplomats and business officials from both countries have signed memorandums of understanding on mechanisms for political cooperation and the expansion of trade ties.
The Foreign Minister said that the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi is expected to visit Nicaragua as part of his tour of Latin America and has extended an invitation to his Nicaraguan counterpart to visit Tehran.
During the meeting, Ortega stated that the Secretary General of the United Nations and human rights institutions affiliated with the organization have become tools in the hands of imperialism. He called for a joint effort to confront this process, stating that the dominance of imperialism over the world cannot last any longer.
“The enemies of global peace and tranquility have maintained their imperialist policies, and consider the whole world, not just Latin America, as their backyard. They have committed crimes, wars and violence against nations, encouraged slavery in the name of democracy and occupied many countries. World nations have, however, fought and won back their independence. This is while imperialists continue to press ahead with their policies and terrorist acts,” he said.
“The secretary general of the United Nations and human rights institutions affiliated to the world body have become tools in the hands of imperialism. We must join forces to confront the process,” Ortega added.
“The path of future is quite clear as the dominance of imperialism over the world cannot last any longer,” the Nicaraguan president said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian arrived in Nicaragua on Wednesday for a tour of Latin America that will take him later to Venezuela.
