Speaking during a virtual press conference, Khatibzadeh said that the US has duties about hosting the United Nations and has to fulfil its duties regardless of differences with other countries.
“The anti-Iranian lobbies use any kind of allegations as they did before,” the spokesman said.
When asked about a possible visit to Iran by the president of Iraq, he said that such a visit is on the agenda and has been planned and the Iraqi president will most probably visit Tehran for the inauguration of President-elect Ebrahim Raisi.
On conviction of an Iranian national in the US for allegedly having a hand in exports of sanctioned items, Khatibzadeh described the US act as “hostage-taking” which is being carried out under ungrounded allegations.
“Iran’s priority is to return the Iranians from the US prisons, and the more they carry out hostage taking, the more will be added to the list of Iranians that have to be set free.”
On the New Levant initiative between Iraq, Jordan and Egypt, the spokesman said that Iran always welcomes whatever helps the role of Iraq in the region and any initiative which would help regional peace and stability.
When asked to comment about the developments in Tunisia, Khatibzadeh said that Iran is closely monitoring the Tunisian development.
“We stand by the Tunisian government and nation to pass through this phase. Comprehensive dialogue is the only way.”
On Iran’s measures to establish peace in Afghanistan, the spokesman said that the security of Afghanistan is a priority for Iran.
“All the sides and Taliban have been told to protect the security of people,” Khatibzadeh said, adding that Iran is ready to provide any assistance in this regard.
He said that Iran helped accelerate the first round of talks in Tehran and is ready to do so for a second round of talks.
Noting that Taliban is part of today and the future of Afghanistan, he said that intra-Afghan talks are the road to sustainable peace.
“Iran regards security in Afghanistan as its own security and cares about the security of diplomatic places,” Khatibzadeh said, adding, “we are in contact with all the sides for establishment of security and peace.”
On the recent anti-Iranian claims by the secretary general of the Persian Gulf Cooperation Council, the spokesman said that such strange claims are indicative of his lack of accurate knowledge and incomplete understanding of the developments in West Asia which is affected by one or two member states.
Asked about Iran’s reaction to a letter by US President Joe Biden about Iran during a meeting with the Iraqi prime minister, Khatibzadeh said that Iran has never made its neighbors and friends a point of contention with others while the US has done so as it did in the assassination of Iranian general Qasem Soleimani near Baghdad airport.
On claims by the US secretary of state and foreign ministers of certain European countries that the time of negotiation for revival of JCPOA is not forever, Khatibzadeh said that the United States, as a violator of JCPOA and a country that has imposed unfair sanctions on the Iranian nation, cannot talk as a claimant country.
They know better than anyone else that the talks were underway so seriously while the American side was not ready to fulfil its commitments, he said, adding that as soon as the United States adheres to its commitments, the agreement is in reach.
He rejected any message from Iran to the US through Qatari officials, saying the visit to Iran by the Qatari foreign minister was about bilateral issues, when the two sides discussed issues of bilateral and regional importance.
9341**2050
Follow us on Twitter @IrnaEnglish