Iran's Acting Foreign Minister Ali Bagheri Kani has expressed Tehran's willingness to reset relations with the West, emphasizing that the next move should come from Western nations.
In an interview with Newsweek magazine, Bagheri Kani stated, "We believe that now is the time and it is the turn of the other side to prove its sincere intentions to begin engagement and open a new chapter in relations. We have always been extremely honest and serious, and we will continue to be so when it comes to ensuring engagement with all international players."
This statement comes in the wake of Iran's recent presidential election, which saw reformist candidate and former health minister Massoud Pezeshkian emerge victorious with 53.6% of the vote. During his campaign, Pezeshkian advocated for dialogue with the West, restoration of the nuclear deal, and attracting foreign investment.
However, Iranian analysts have cautioned that these plans could face obstacles if Republican Donald Trump wins the November 2024 US presidential election, potentially derailing the negotiation process.
Addressing the US stance on Iran's electoral process, Bagheri Kani emphasized, "The Americans allow themselves to comment on the choice made by the Iranian people and try to reject it. If the U.S. wants to open a new chapter, it should respect the Iranian people's choice and the course of elections." He added, "We respect the choice made by the American people, and Americans should respect the choice made by the Iranian people."
Bagheri Kani arrived in New York on July 15 to attend ministerial-level meetings of the UN Security Council on multilateralism in international relations and the situation in the Middle East, including the Palestinian issue.
The swearing-in ceremony for President-elect Pezeshkian is scheduled for July 30.
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Based on TASS materials