Geoff Bennett:
The drumbeat of war between the U.S. and Iran seems to have quieted for now after indirect talks in Oman last weekend between the two sides, but the threat remains.
Tomorrow, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will visit the White House. The U.S. joined Israel’s attacks on Iran last June.
Now, for a rare view from Iran and its perspective, special correspondent Reza Sayah sat down this morning in Tehran with Esmaeil Baghaei, a member of Iran’s negotiating team and the spokesperson for Iran’s Foreign Ministry.
Reza Sayah:
Mr. Baghaei, first of all, thank you for your time.
Up until a week ago, there was reports that war was imminent, Mr. Donald Trump, the U.S. president, hyping his forces, saying war is on the table.
How much do you worry?
Esmaeil Baghaei, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman:
For one thing, I think no human person of common sense welcomes war. No one wants war.
And for the past five decades, for the past 47 years, we have been facing these threats, which are, of course, unlawful, unwarranted, unjustified.
Reza Sayah:
Do you worry? Do you think it’s becoming more of a possibility?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
You see, we have always lived with these looming threats.
So, while we should be concerned about the consequences, but I think we have been courageous, our people have been courageous, because they know this is not just. This is a threat that wants to impose their will on our people. So we have to deal with that.
Reza Sayah:
The indirect talks in Oman, I want you to take me there because you were there. One location, you have the American team. In another location, you have the Iranian team. Did you ever cross paths with the Americans? Did you see them?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
So we started with a short briefing with Minister Busaidi, and then they had their own interaction. I mean Americans and Omanis.
And in between, there was a short shake-hand between Iran foreign minister and American envoy.
Reza Sayah:
So, they met? They shook hands?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
Yes. Yes, they met. They…
Reza Sayah:
Did you shake their hands?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
I was not there.
Reza Sayah:
You were not there.
Esmaeil Baghaei:
Because it was between Minister Araghchi and American envoy Steve Witkoff.
Reza Sayah:
So was it pleasant? Did they smile? Did they exchange greetings?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
Iranian diplomats are polite.
Reza Sayah:
A lot of people are still not clear of what was achieved in that first session and what can be achieved, because Washington’s demands are your red lines. If no one’s budging from their position, where is their room to negotiate?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
I think, at the end of the day, if the intention is to have a result-oriented negotiations, there should be a compromise. This was the first step. And the fact that we managed to get together after eight months, I think, by itself, was important.
The distrust between the United States and Iran is very deep, and it is not because of Iran’s behavior. Just seven or eight months back, we had to face with this unlawful attack against our nuclear facilities by the United States. So I think it was very courageous for Iranians to decide to go for these negotiations, knowing that the previous rounds resulted in an American attack against Iran.
Reza Sayah:
Is there anywhere the Islamic Republic can show flexibility when it comes to enriching uranium, sending out their stockpile, limiting their missile system, cutting off ties with the proxies? Is there any place where you can show some flexibility?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
The negotiations are going to be focused on nuclear issue.
Reza Sayah:
So let’s take the nuclear issue. Would you consider, consider enriching uranium at a lower level, sending out some of your stockpile, maybe pausing the uranium enrichment for a couple of years?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
What we want is based on an established rule of international law.
We are a member of nonproliferation treaty. We are for nuclear energy for peaceful purposes. We have said many times that it is part of our established doctrine that nuclear weapon has no place in our defense doctrine. The hype has been produced by Israel that, for the past four decades, they are claiming that Iran is at the verge of producing nuclear weapons.
That’s a big lie. So, as far as nuclear issue is concerned, enrichment being part of that, we have shown flexibility. We have said that we would be ready to talk about the level of enrichment.
Reza Sayah:
So you are willing to consider talking about the level at this point?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
Of course. We have said many times that we would be ready to talk about the level of enrichment, about the stockpile.
But the important thing is that our right, which is recognized under an international treaty, should be respected.
Reza Sayah:
Tensions between Washington and Tehran escalated, and it coincided with the recent protests and the crackdown. It’s Iran’s position that there were foreign elements in these protests, some of them were armed. Video also shows that security forces were firing at protesters.
How seriously do you take this matter and how seriously is the Islamic Republic working to hold anyone accountable that killed innocent people?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
Every single life matters. They are Iranians.
And we regard that as a very, very unfortunate situation. Peaceful assemblies, peaceful protests is something that we respect. But what happened after 10 or 12 days, from 8 to 10 January, was completely different.
The gunmen mushroomed in many cities across the country. They were armed. They used handguns. And they started killing our security forces. It is not a matter of secrecy. Israeli officials, they have said that Israeli Mossad-affiliated agents are in these streets. They are with the protesters.
You see, they have been claiming 100,000 protesters being killed. They are all lies. And…
Reza Sayah:
What can you do to verify the death toll?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
They have done it. The president’s office issued a statement with the names and national code number of all those who have been killed.
Reza Sayah:
What is the Islamic Republic doing to investigate their own security forces, to hold their own security forces accountable and be transparent with that investigation?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
We have mechanisms, we have established mechanisms. Security forces, those who were involved in any unlawful shooting, we hold trials for them.
Reza Sayah:
What makes you hopeful that Iran will overcome this very difficult time and the negotiations will be successful? What keeps you hopeful?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
Many things.
Reza Sayah:
Like what?
Esmaeil Baghaei:
We are coming from a very rich civilization, and we have experienced many problems across centuries. We have no other choice, other than overcoming this crisis as well.
Geoff Bennett:
And that was Reza Sayah reporting from Tehran.
