Iran Press/ Iran News: Nasser Kanani, in a weekly presser on Monday in response to a question regarding Iranian FM Hossein Amir-Abdollahian's remarks about the agreement between Iran and the United States on the exchange of prisoners and US' claim that there is no such agreement and optimism for an agreement with the United States, stated: "Regarding the issue of prisoners, the Minister of Foreign Affairs made the remarks yesterday (Sunday), and I gave additional explanations in this regard after the surprising reaction of the American side ."
Kanaani added: "What is important for us is that the negotiation process should lead to the necessary practical results. Iran emphasized many times and showed in practice that it had a firm and practical belief in diplomacy as the best way to resolve disputes and solve problems, and it has shown its adherence to the path of action."
This Iranian diplomat noted: "Both in relation to the prisoners and other issues related to the American government, talks and negotiations have continued through intermediaries. We already reached an agreement on some issues, including the prisoners, and a written agreement was formed in March of last year, which was also signed by the official representative of the American government. At one stage, the American side accepted that this issue should be done without connection with the process of sanctions lifting negotiations and exchange, and at another stage they tied it to the process of nuclear negotiations.
The spokesman of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated: "As the Islamic Republic of Iran, as we have announced, we are ready for this to be done as a humanitarian issue. America's technical problems are related to itself. In this matter, if the American side is realistic, the issue of prisoner exchange can be done as a completely humane issue."
He said: "Regarding the process of nuclear negotiations, considering the history of the American government's non-compliance and adherence to its obligations, Iran believes in the necessity of obtaining verifiable guarantees in order to ensure the adherence of the American government to the new agreement, and in this direction we will follow the issue."
Restoration of Iranian-Saudi ties; what relates to time prior to President's visit to China
The idea of talks for Iran-Saudi Arabia restoration of ties refers to the time before the Chinses President's visit to Riyadh and Iranian President's visit to Beijing.
After intensive negotiations, the Islamic Republic of Iran and Saudi Arabia agreed to restore their relations and re-open the embassies of the two countries.
In his weekly press conference on Monday, March 13, 2023, Nasser Kanani talked more about the recent agreement between Iran and Saudi Arabia to restore their ties.
Kanani said: "Within the framework of the ideas that China proposed, we came across this idea from China that the representatives of Iran and Saudi Arabia will meet on the sidelines of the President Raisi's visit to Beijing."
Iran accepted the restoration of ties based on its good will, yet it believed that due to the importance of the bilateral meeting between the Presidents of Iran and China, the talks between Iran and Saudi Arabia should be postponed to another time, he added.
He said that Chinese President Xi Jinping conveyed the message of the Saudi side to Iran when holding a private meeting with President Raisi.
Preparations for the meeting of the Iranian and Saudi foreign ministers will be formed in the near future.
As a result of the negotiations, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia agreed to restore diplomatic relations and reopen their embassies and agencies within two next months, the statement added.
Still, Kanani noted that the issue has positive effects on strengthening cooperation and common convergence in the region to help consolidate its peace and stability, especially in the strategic area of the Persian Gulf and make all, including China, to benefit from stability in West Asia and the Persian Gulf.
Iran working to free blocked money
The Spokesman of Iran's Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the country is seriously working to release its money blocked in other countries through diplomacy.
Nsasser Kanani pointed out that the US blockage of the Iranian nation's assets in other countries was illegal, calling it interfering in other countries' monetary relations.
With regard to releasing the assets from Iraq, Kanani said that the country was no exception and the process was going on within the agreed frameworks.
Still, with regard to the role of Iraq in the restoration of Iranian-Saudi ties, he called the country the founder of the negotiations, appreciating the country for the key role it played in the process.
The Iranian spokesman said that the country supports the independence of Yemen noting that the issue of Yemen and making decisions about the country was up to the Yemeni nation themselves.
"From the beginning of the war on Yemen, we believed that war is not a solution and it will be a loss for Yemen, Saudi Arabia and the whole region," he pointed out.
With the support of the United States, the United Arab Emirates, and several other countries, Saudi Arabia launched a military attack on Yemen in March 2015 and since then sieged the country by land, sea, and air.
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