New chapter of cooperation between Tehran and Islamabad; Afghanistan the focus of joint consultations

Afghan Voice Agency (AVA) - Tehran: The weekly meeting of the spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Islamic Republic of Iran was held today, Monday, August 4, in the presence of domestic and foreign journalists at the ministry building. The meeting coincided with Journalist's Day in Iran (August 8), and hosted the family of martyred Nima Rajabpour, a journalist for the country's Radio and Television. Iranian Foreign Minister Dr. Seyyed Abbas Araghchi also attended the meeting unexpectedly after returning from Pakistan. He paid tribute to the memory of martyred journalist Mahmoud Saremi and a group of Iranian diplomats in the Iranian consulate incident in Mazar-e-Sharif, and congratulated them on Journalist's Day.

 

 

12 cooperation documents and the start of free trade talks

Explaining the details of the Pakistani trip, Ismail Baghaei said: "During the President's visit to Islamabad, 12 cooperation documents were signed in the economic, cultural, customs and infrastructure fields, each of which can be a practical step to strengthen the ties between the two countries." He also announced an agreement to begin formal negotiations to sign a free trade agreement between Iran and Pakistan, adding: “The main focus is on developing border infrastructure, facilitating economic exchanges, and expanding trade, which will be pursued within the framework of the mechanisms of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO).”

 

Afghanistan; a common concern of Tehran and Islamabad

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized the importance of developments in Afghanistan in the talks between the two sides, saying: “The two countries have hosted millions of Afghan refugees for years and have deep cultural, religious, and historical ties with Afghanistan. As a result, the situation in this country and its impact on regional security and borders is naturally one of the main axes of consultations between Iran and Pakistan.” He emphasized that Iran will make decisions on the issue of recognizing the government of the Islamic Emirate solely based on its own national interests and concerns, and no country, including Russia, can influence this matter.

 

America is a partner in the Zionist regime’s war crimes in Gaza

In another part of the meeting, Baqaie, in response to the US President’s recent statements denying the genocide in Gaza, said: “The US government, whether under the Democrats or Republicans, has always been an unconditional supporter of the Zionist regime. Therefore, from the perspective of regional public opinion, America is considered a direct partner in war crimes and genocide in Gaza.”

He added, referring to the continued attacks on Gaza in the last two years: “Thanks to the efforts of independent journalists, today there is no longer any doubt about the genocide in Gaza. The silence or denial of American officials does not change the facts, and even the recent envoy of the US government was more of a political show than a real action.”

 

Iran: Enrichment is our red line; Any plan that guarantees this component can be considered

In response to a question about the "Minareh" plan proposed by the former Iranian Foreign Minister, Baghaei said: "The idea of forming a consortium is not a new issue and has been raised in negotiations in the past, but it has never entered the implementation phase." He emphasized: "In our opinion, the right to enrichment is an inseparable part of the inalienable rights of the Islamic Republic of Iran under the NPT. Therefore, any plan that can guarantee and preserve this important component can be considered."

 

Compensation from the US; a legal and definitive demand in any possible dialogue

Referring to the words of the former Deputy Foreign Minister about demanding compensation from the US for aggressive actions against Iran's peaceful facilities, Baghaei said: "This is a completely legal issue and can be pursued in international institutions. Violation of monitored nuclear sites is a clear violation of international law, and accordingly, the offending state must be held accountable."

He added: “The demand for compensation will be one of the central issues in any possible future dialogue. Past experiences such as the oil rig case and the US intervention in Nicaragua show that it is possible to pursue such cases within the framework of international law.”

 

Trilateral cooperation between Iran, Pakistan and Turkey; continuing the tradition of regional cooperation

The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, referring to the plan to revive trilateral cooperation between Iran, Pakistan and Turkey, which was also raised during the recent visit, said: “This cooperation has a long history. In the 1960s, the three countries founded the Regional Cooperation Organization for Development (RCD), which later became the ECO organization.” He clarified: “Cooperation in the field of economy can also be the basis for interactions in other fields, including security, culture and politics.”

 

Iran: Decision on interaction with the Agency to be made after its representatives' visit

In the section on Iran's cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Baghaei, referring to the special circumstances resulting from the recent attacks on the country's nuclear facilities, said: "Currently, Iran's cooperation with the Agency is suspended according to a parliamentary resolution. This suspension is because our facilities, which were under the Agency's 24-hour surveillance, were targeted and the safety of the employees was also affected."

He added: "Unfortunately, the Agency remained silent in response to these attacks and even earlier, by publishing reports, created the necessary psychological and political ground for action."

The Zionist regime and the United States provided the final decision on the continuation or the manner of interaction will be made after the Agency representatives visit Tehran.

 

Dialogue with Europe continues; defense capability is not negotiable

Regarding Iran’s talks with three European countries, Baqai said: “It was agreed at the recent meeting in Istanbul that the talks will continue, but the date and place of the next round have not yet been determined. The deputy foreign ministers of Iran and the European parties are in constant contact.” He emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran has always participated in the talks with a purposeful, constructive and serious approach.

He concluded by saying: “Iran’s defense capabilities will not be the subject of any negotiations. This is a principled and unchangeable position.”