Biden, Raisi prefer to speak indirectly at UN, rather than in Vienna, on nuclear agreement
U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized diplomacy, while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi denounced the U.S. and called for the cancellation of sanctions. The fate of the talks in Vienna is still uncertain
Dan Arkin
| 22/09/2021
Screenshot from https://gadebate.un.org/generaldebate76/en
Iran announced that the talks in Vienna on the nuclear agreement will be renewed within several weeks, but there will be no meetings at the ongoing UN General Assembly between Iranian representatives and representatives of the powers. In his speech at the General Assembly, President Biden announced that the U.S. will return to the Vienna talks if Iran does so, and if Iran is seeking a diplomatic solution. On the topic of the Middle East, Biden said that his country supports a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although it is currently a long way away.
According to Iran's IRNA news agency, the spokesman of the country's Foreign Ministry said that the talks will resume soon, and that "every meeting requires prior coordination and the preparation of an agenda." Six rounds of talks have been held so far in Vienna on the nuclear agreement.
Biden said at the General Assembly in New York that his country is ready to return to the talks in Vienna if Iran does so as well. "The United States remains committed to preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. We are working with the P5+1 to engage Iran diplomatically and seek a return to the JCPOA."
Regarding the Middle Eastern conflict, the U.S. President said that his country supports a two-state solution, but it recognizes that "We’re a long way from that goal at this moment, but we must never allow ourselves to give up on the possibility of progress." Biden added that "The commitment of the United States to Israel’s security is without question" and "our support for an independent, Jewish state is unequivocal."
Meanwhile, in a prerecorded blunt speech at the General Assembly, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who did not attend the gathering, denounced the U.S., invoking two moments that he said "made history" this year: the incident on Capitol Hill in January, and Afghan civilians falling from American evacuation planes in Kabul.
Referring to those two moments, the president of Iran said the U.S. should stop trying to influence the world. "Today, the world doesn’t care about 'America First' or 'America is Back'," said Raisi, referring to the slogans used by former U.S. President Donald Trump and his successor, Joe Biden.
He also denounced the U.S. regarding the sanctions it imposed on Iran, claiming that they are inhuman and illegal. Raisi said that the U.S. stopped the talks on the 2015 nuclear agreement, adding "We want only what is rightfully ours. All powers must stay true to the nuclear deal in practice."
U.S. President Joe Biden emphasized diplomacy, while Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi denounced the U.S. and called for the cancellation of sanctions. The fate of the talks in Vienna is still uncertain
Screenshot from https://gadebate.un.org/generaldebate76/en
Iran announced that the talks in Vienna on the nuclear agreement will be renewed within several weeks, but there will be no meetings at the ongoing UN General Assembly between Iranian representatives and representatives of the powers. In his speech at the General Assembly, President Biden announced that the U.S. will return to the Vienna talks if Iran does so, and if Iran is seeking a diplomatic solution. On the topic of the Middle East, Biden said that his country supports a two-state solution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, although it is currently a long way away.
According to Iran's IRNA news agency, the spokesman of the country's Foreign Ministry said that the talks will resume soon, and that "every meeting requires prior coordination and the preparation of an agenda." Six rounds of talks have been held so far in Vienna on the nuclear agreement.
Biden said at the General Assembly in New York that his country is ready to return to the talks in Vienna if Iran does so as well. "The United States remains committed to preventing Iran from gaining a nuclear weapon. We are working with the P5+1 to engage Iran diplomatically and seek a return to the JCPOA."
Regarding the Middle Eastern conflict, the U.S. President said that his country supports a two-state solution, but it recognizes that "We’re a long way from that goal at this moment, but we must never allow ourselves to give up on the possibility of progress." Biden added that "The commitment of the United States to Israel’s security is without question" and "our support for an independent, Jewish state is unequivocal."
Meanwhile, in a prerecorded blunt speech at the General Assembly, Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who did not attend the gathering, denounced the U.S., invoking two moments that he said "made history" this year: the incident on Capitol Hill in January, and Afghan civilians falling from American evacuation planes in Kabul.
Referring to those two moments, the president of Iran said the U.S. should stop trying to influence the world. "Today, the world doesn’t care about 'America First' or 'America is Back'," said Raisi, referring to the slogans used by former U.S. President Donald Trump and his successor, Joe Biden.
He also denounced the U.S. regarding the sanctions it imposed on Iran, claiming that they are inhuman and illegal. Raisi said that the U.S. stopped the talks on the 2015 nuclear agreement, adding "We want only what is rightfully ours. All powers must stay true to the nuclear deal in practice."
