Speaking at a weekly presser in Tehran, Kanaani said Iran has honored all of its obligations under the Safeguards Agreements and has been subject to the world’s most robust nuclear verification regime under the Iran nuclear agreement, officially called the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
“Making new claims (by the IAEA) is not constructive because Iran’s activities are peaceful and under supervision. The Agency and its secretary general are expected to continue their professional activities and avoid political measures,” he said.
It came after the UN nuclear watchdog notified its members about an increase in the rate at which Iran has been enriching uranium at two of its nuclear facilities since the end of November, which Iran rejected as a baseless claim.
Iran-Russia relations
Asked about Iran’s relations with Russia and the latter’s stance on the Gaza war, Kanaani said the Tehran-Moscow ties are expanding based on the Raisi administration’s good neighborliness policy.
“The existence of extensive relations in various fields does not mean that two countries agree on all international issues,” he said, arguing that it is natural to have different views on issues as long as relations are based on mutual respect and acceptance of differences of opinion.
He also said Tehran has already declared its position regarding the issue of the three Iranian islands.
“Therefore, the developing relations between the two countries do not prevent us from expressing our positions in controversial cases,” the Foreign Ministry spokesman added.
The Zionist regime's airstrikes on Syria
These actions are a violation of international law and the United Nations Charter as well as a breach of Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, which is condemned and can be pursued legally, Kanaani said.
Such measures are a threat to international peace and security, he said adding that the Zionist regime is used to spreading its internal crises beyond the borders of the occupied territories by trying to expand insecurity in the region.
He urged the United Nations Security Council to fulfill its responsibility against the wicked behavior of the Zionist regime.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Kanaani slammed the criminal assassination of martyr Seyed Razi Mousavi.
Certainly, the Zionist regime will not achieve strategic results by doing these criminal actions, and the resistance is more powerful than ever, he stated.
He also congratulated the New Christian Year, saying that the nations of the world are celebrating the New Year in a situation where the birthplace of Jesus Christ in Palestine is under the unprecedented crimes of the usurping regime.
Unfortunately, the Zionist regime continues its crimes, he stressed.
The spokesperson also pointed out the martyrdom anniversary of Lieutenant General Qassem Soleimani, noting that the Islamic Republic seriously follows up the probe into the crime committed by the US regime regarding the assassination of Martyr Soleimani; so, the issue will never be forgotten and the passage of time will not lessen the significance of the criminal case.
At the domestic level, the legal and criminal dimensions of the assassination are being pursued against the United States, and at the international arena, Iran’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs follows up it based on a 1973 UN convention, he said, adding that Tehran takes significant measures in this respect.
According to the spokesman, along with legal follow-ups for the crime committed by the United States, official notes have also been conveyed to the Swiss Embassy in Tehran, which represents US interests in Iran.
Kanaani also mentioned that if there is a fair criminal court, the assassination case should be definitely considered a matter of international crime, and the commander in charge of the assassination must be pursued and brought to justice. However, whatever the case may be, the US administration has illegitimately utilized its influence in international entities, he said.
Iran is of the opinion that Martyr Soleimani was one of the figures, who enjoyed international support, and he traveled to Iraq on an official invitation; therefore, his case falls under the provisions of international conventions.
JCPOA revival talks
On claims that the new round of negotiations to revive the JCPOA have been canceled over the developments in Palestine, Kanaani said Iran is ready to discuss the conclusion of a deal on the JCPOA.
He declined to respond to media reports but hastened to add that a new round of negotiations can be held and Iran has no problem with attending the talks as long as its red lines are observed.
Regarding Iran’s membership in the BRICS group of emerging economies, he said Tehran is considered a full member of the bloc from today, January 1.
“The BRICS has gained more weight with the addition of new members. One of the outcomes of improving Iran’s international status is its membership in the BRICS.”
Elsewhere in his presser, Kanaani said relations between Iran and China are progressing.
“We have a very good legal infrastructure in the development of relations between the two countries,” he said. “This process will continue this year and we will witness the improvement of relations between the two countries.”
According to the spokesman, boosting cooperation with the Eurasian Economic Union is on Iran’s agenda, and collaborations in this regard have been expanding rapidly.
“A free trade agreement has been signed with this union. With this agreement, we will witness the promotion and increase of Iran’s trade with this union,” he added.
Regarding the claims about the US' message to Iran on Palestine, Kanaani said that Iran has a clear position towards Palestine.
As we are consulting with various parties to end the Zionists' crimes, we are discussing how to help the Palestinian nation, he added.
The US has never been a party to the solution and it has always been a party to the conflict, he said.
The United States has always considered itself committed to supporting Israel, he added.
We believe that the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) has many capacities that can be used to support Palestine, Kanaani noted.
The OIC can form a specialized legal committee to provide the necessary documents to condemn the Zionist regime's war crimes against Palestine,he said.
Iran considers resistance movements as liberating movements, he said adding that Iran proudly supports Palestinian resistance movements for the liberation of their land.
Assassination of Iran advisor
Kanaani went on to say that the Israeli regime is responsible for the repercussions of the assassination of Martyr Razi Mousavi, and Iran reserves the right to take appropriate action at the right time and place. Martyr Seyyed Razi Mousavi was an Iranian senior advisor in the fight against terrorism in Syria, he said, adding that Iranian forces have a military presence in the Arab country at the invitation of Damascus.
The Israeli regime committed a blatant act of aggression and adventurism, the spokesman said, arguing that this action amounts to the support for terrorism and is an apparent infringement of Syria's territorial integrity and that the Israeli regime carried out this adventurist move to instigate insecurity in the West Asia region.
Based on international laws, Syria is also entitled to respond to crimes and violations against its territorial integrity, Kanaani said, adding that Iran sent a letter to the Secretary-General of the United Nations Antonio Guterres through its representation office at the UN, urging the international body to fulfill its responsibilities in respect of maintaining peace in the region.
Ukraine war
As to the ongoing war in Ukraine, the diplomat noted that Tehran’s position on Kiev is obvious and that Iran welcomed the political mechanisms and declared it can help end the conflict via political tools.
Iran assets
He also referred to Iran's unfrozen assets, noting that Iranian assets have been transferred, and the country is capable of making use of the money; thus, no other changes have happened.
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