Iran says it is ready for talks with the West, but does not admit to transferring missiles to Russia

Photo: Ballistic missile launch during military exercises in southern Iran/Iranian Army via AP

Iran's foreign minister said on Saturday that Tehran was open to diplomacy to resolve disputes but not “threats and pressure,” the Islamic Republic's state media reported, after the United States and three European countries imposed sanctions on the country's aviation sector.

Abbas Araghchi's comments came a day after the European Union's top diplomat said the EU was considering new sanctions targeting Iran's aviation sector in response to reports that Tehran had supplied Russia with ballistic missiles for its war in Ukraine, Voice of America reported.

“Iran continues to follow its own path, although we have always been open to negotiations to resolve disputes… but dialogue must be based on mutual respect, not threats and pressure,”– Araghchi told the IRNA news agency.

On Wednesday, September 11, Araghchi denied that Tehran was supplying ballistic missiles to Russia, and insisted that the sanctions imposed on Iran by the United States and three European countries “will not solve any problems.”

On Tuesday, September 10, the United States, Germany, Britain and France imposed new sanctions on Iran, including measures against its national airline Iran Air.

The sanctions concern short-range ballistic missiles.

Saying it was open to talks, Iran launched a satellite on Saturday using a ballistic missile built at a military factory, state media in the Islamic Republic reported. Iran described the launch as a success and would be the second such launch to put a satellite into orbit using a ballistic missile. Footage later released by Iranian media showed the rocket lifted off from a mobile launcher. An analysis of the video and other later images by The Associated Press showed the launch took place from a Revolutionary Guards launch pad on the outskirts of the city of Shahroud, about 350 kilometers (220 miles) east of Tehran. The solid-fueled, three-stage rocket carried the 60-kilogram (133 pounds) Chamran-1 satellite into orbit at an altitude of 550 kilometers (340 miles), state media reported. Intercontinental ballistic missiles can be used to deliver nuclear weapons.

Prepared by: Sergey Daga