West Incapable Of Removing Iran From Energy Deals – Iran FM

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast has dismissed the US-led threats of imposing oil sanctions against Tehran, saying that the West is incapable of removing Iran from energy transactions.

A country like Iran, which has the world’s fourth largest oil reserves and second gas reserves, cannot be eliminated from energy deals considering the current global energy situation, Mehmanparast said.

He added that such sanctions will exert more pressure on those countries that are bent on using the bid to impose their will.

Western countries will bear the brunt of damages resulting from an anti-Iran oil embargo, he said, adding that Western states have major differences in their approach to the issue.

The spokesperson emphasized that Iran currently exports the least amount of oil and gas to European countries.

Considering the enormous global demand for energy, I don’t believe that even those countries that speak about imposing sanctions on Iran’s oil sector can be serious about their remarks, Mehmanparast said.

Meanwhile, Mehmanparast rejected any link between the slump of Iran’s currency as well as the fluctuation in the stock markets and the latest unilateral US sanctions targeting the Central Bank of Iran (CBI).

It is obvious that the fluctuation in the stock markets has nothing to do with sanctions and foreign policy, he said, adding that the sanctions “have yet to be implemented.”

Spokesman of Iran’s Foreign Ministry said that recent sanctions imposed by the US government on the Central Bank of Iran (CBI) will not weaken the nation’s resolve to pursue its goals and rights.

Ramin Mehmanparast added that CBI sanctions only aim to increase political pressure on Iran and part of a propaganda campaign against the country because there are no banking ties or trade exchange between the two countries.

“Countries which act under US pressure must realize that they will eventually forfeit their national interests under illegitimate US pressure and in order to serve US interests,” he added.

The official said the Iranian nation would forever remember such hostile measures despite, stressing that Iran would continue to use such pressures as an opportunity to increase the pace of its achievements.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman also said that an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) delegation will visit the Islamic Republic in the near future.

“An IAEA delegation, headed by a deputy director general of the agency, will travel to Iran soon and this visit is in line with Tehran’s continued cooperation with this international body,” Mehmanparast said.

He added that the visit would take place upon an invitation from Tehran and indicates the country’s goodwill and transparency in its nuclear activities.

The Iranian spokesperson stated that talks are currently underway to determine the exact date of the visit.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokesman also announced that it is waiting for a response by EU High Representative for Foreign and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on the date and venue for the future negotiations between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).

“We are waiting for the EU foreign policy chief to offer her proposal on the date and venue of the next meeting between Iran and the G5+1,” Ramin Mehmanparast said.

He reiterated that once Ms. Ashton presents her proposal for the time and place of the negotiations, Iran’s team of negotiators headed by Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili would announce the country’s viewpoints and would reach a final agreement with her through further contacts and consultations.