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Prisoner swap with US still on agenda: Kanaani

ISNA - Iranian Students' News Agency

Mon / 26 June 2023 / 12:02

Tehran (ISNA) - Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, Nasser Kanaani stressed that the issue of prisoner swap between Iran and the US is still on the agenda and is being pursued through mediators who are in good faith seeking to play a role in this regard.

Speaking at a weekly press conference on Monday, Kanaani said, "The issue of Iran-US prisoner swap is still on the agenda and is being pursued through mediators who are in good faith seeking to play a role in this regard. Now, we have to see if Washington is ready to make a final decision in this regard or not".

"We hope to see such a positive action as soon as possible," he added.

Regarding Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Political Affairs Ali Bagheri's recent discussions in Doha and Abu Dhabi on sanction removal talks, Kanaani noted, "These negotiations were serious and frank".

"In these conversations, Iran's positions have been clearly announced to the European parties and we take the negotiations seriously," he added.

Elsewhere in his remarks, Kanaani emphasized that Iran will soon publish the annual report on various human rights violations by the United States and make it available to the media.

When was asked about the recent media reports over reaching an unwritten agreement between Iran-America and also sanction removal talks, the Iranian spokesman responded, "We don't confirm assumptions about sanction removal talks from the media".

"The Islamic Republic of Iran has always been committed to the negotiations table. Moreover, we have been following the case within the policies set before to secure Iranians' rights," he added.

In addition to the issue of prisoner swap between Iran and the US, Nasser Kanaani shifted to the same issue between Iran and Sweden, while declaring, "Regarding the talks between Iranian and Swedish Foreign Ministers, we will witness the prisoner swap between Iran and Sweden in the near future. In case of the former Iranian official Hamid Nouri, we have called for the unconditional release. That is our demand from the Swedish administration".

Kanaani reacted to the EU's new round of sanctions against Iran over alleged human rights violations while described them as a "non-constructive move".

He went on to say, "What European Union pursues on this path is a null-and-void way and this is a non-constructive move, indeed. On the one hand, they ask for talks. But on the other hand, they insist on a non-constructive tool. They are at odd with one another. The EU should reform its own conduct and refrain from following in America's footsteps. This tool [sanction] is not merely hurting Iran, also it is destructive for other sides as well".

The Iranian spokesman, in terms of the Ukraine crisis, said "We have repeatedly stated that the solution of Ukraine crisis is political and have invited parties to political dialogue too".

He once again denied any allegations over defense cooperation of Iran-Russia in Ukraine war and emphasized, "The defense cooperation between Iran-Russia is based on bilateral ties and within the acceptable international norms and also it's not against any party. As we have mentioned before, the defense and military cooperation of Iran-Russia can be traced back to before the outbreak of Ukraine war, so these kinds of claims are just political and they are not valid at all. Iran has already stated that it has never sent any weapons and equipment to any sides of the war".

Nasser Kanaani continued the press conference with referring to the expansion of Iran-Saudi Arabia cooperation from political level to the economic one, as stressing, "During the talks held between Iranian and Saudi Foreign Ministers in Beijing, South Africa and Tehran, both sides have agreed to expand bilateral cooperation in the field of economy".

"Iran and Saudi Arabia are important countries in the region and can have a constructive role for peace and stability of the region. Also, we have made attempts about Yemen issue from the outset and we have tried to prevent the war from dragging on. We have always stated that Yemen solution is political and had a good interaction with the UN Special Envoy for Yemen on this matter," he added.

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