Iran Press/ Iran News: In his weekly presser on Monday the spokesman for Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs Saeed Khatibzadeh said: "Last night, a note of protest was handed over to the Iraqi embassy in Tehran following the attack on the Iranian Consulate in Karbala."
Khatibzadeh referred to special assistant to Iran's foreign minister for special political affairs Ali Asghar Khaji's conversation with his Swedish counterpart on Yemen and the Syrian Foreign Minister's telephone conversation with Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, saying: "Syria has invited Mr. Zarif to visit Damascus, and Zarif accepted."
Khatibzadeh also commented on the Yahoo News report on the assassination of former IRGC's Quds Force Commander Lieutenant General Qasem Soleimani and the involvement of the Zionist regime and Iraqi Kurdistan, saying: "Iran is following up the case in the judiciary and international forums, and we also follow up the paths that can be pursued in political, security, and legal talks with Iraq. Many of these reports are not hidden from us. We believe those who have been involved, directly or indirectly, in this unfair and cowardly assassination should be accountable in terms of criminal and judicial responsibility."
The Foreign Ministry spokesman also commented on the remarks made by a Saudi official and the confirmation of the Iran-Saudi talks, saying: "The aim of the talks was both bilateral and regional. We have always welcomed these dialogues in any form and level. Let us wait and see the outcome of the dialogues and judge by the results."
In another part of his remarks, Iran's Spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the US had accepted a major part of the commitments it had to fulfill under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iran's Foreign Ministry's spokesman said the seized ship carrying weapons in the Arabian Sea does not belong to Iran because Iran has only a diplomatic presence in Yemen, and the Americans' claim is not true.
Saeed Khatibzadeh also in response to a question about the readiness of the Americans to lift a large part of the sanctions added: "Talks are underway, and every day, a different conclusion was achieved. The United States has accepted most of the commitments it must fulfill, and what it has not accepted are those that have been aimed at foiling the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, and we have serious differences on that."
He also said: "We do not accept the JCPOA Plus. The fact that how the US government will effectively lift sanctions in its domestic policy is not our concern. What matters to us is that the sanctions should be lifted, then we will stop our compensatory measures after verification.
The Spokesman also said that Biden's administration must make a political decision on whether to commit to the JCPOA or defend the legacy of Trump's sanctions.
He added: "A very significant path has been taken in reaching understanding and agreement, and in our opinion, what remains can be both easy and difficult. If the United States does not make its political decision will have a difficult path ahead."
Kahtibzadeh called the verdict against Assadollah Asadi, an Iranian diplomat detained in Belgium, illegitimate and said: "Asadi should enjoy his diplomatic immunity as soon as possible because this verdict has no legitimacy. Asadi and his lawyer do not object to this verdict and the Belgian government knows Iran's position on this.
Regarding Zarif's visit to the UAE, he said: "The UAE is one of Iran's main trading partners in the region, and in the past year there have been several talks between the two countries, and Zarif's visit to that country will take place at the right time.
Iran's top diplomat also called the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia the key to resolve bilateral and regional issues.
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