DUBAI: Tehran remains open to resuming negotiations with Washington towards restoring mutual participation in a nuclear agreement, Iran’s acting foreign minister Ali Bagheri Kani told Newsweek magazine in an interview published on Tuesday.

However, Iran also intended to foster its deepening ties with China, Russia and neighbouring nations, Newsweek quoted him as saying.

Iran would also call for greater action against Israel in view of the Gaza war, he added.

His remarks come as he prepares to address the United Nations Security Council in New York.

The United States unilaterally withdrew from the nuclear accord between Iran and six world powers, which restricted Tehran’s nuclear programmes, in 2018.

While indirect talks between the US and Tehran to revive the deal have already stalled, Iran is still part of the agreement though it has decreased its commitments as US reimposed sanctions on it after the unilateral withdrawal from the accord.

The Biden administration said last week the United States was not ready to resume nuclear talks with Iran under its new president.

Bagheri Kani became the acting foreign minister after foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian died in a helicopter crash along with Iran’s president Ebrahim Raisi in May. Iranians then elected Masoud Pezeshkian as president, a moderate who said he will promote a pragmatic foreign policy and ease tensions with the powers involved in the 2015 nuclear pact.

Published in Dawn, July 17th, 2024