Iranian foreign minister reveals US-Iranian leaders’ meeting： US side tends to lift sanctions.

　　Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif. (Source: Student News Agency)

　　Overseas network September 29 th　Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said that during his visit to new york, he had a telephone conversation with some members of the US Congress, but unfortunately, he did not hold face-to-face talks with them due to the shortened trip.

　　According to the semi-official Iranian Student News Agency (ISNA) on the 29th, Zarif told reporters when he was preparing to leave new york for Teheran that during his visit, he had talks with different groups in the United States, including some US congressmen. Zarif said that he was called by members of the US Congress. Due to the shortened itinerary, he could not coordinate these members to come to new york for face-to-face talks. He deeply regretted this. Zarif stressed that these US lawmakers have not made any demands on Iran, and Iran will not interfere in the US election. The Iranian side has held talks at the request of the other side and used these talks to show the true image of Iran.

　　Iranian President Rouhani and American President Trump. (overseas network puzzle)

　　When talking about the reports about the meeting between Rouhani and Trump, Zarif said that Trump was only trying to hold talks with Rouhani during his stay in new york this week, and Trump was unwilling to accept the lifting of sanctions as a prerequisite for the talks, so the bilateral talks could not take place. Zarif pointed out that direct talks between Trump and Rouhani have never been put on the agenda, and Iran is only willing to participate in the talks within the framework of the Iranian nuclear deal. Zarif also said that Trump did not promise to lift the sanctions after the talks, but Trump preferred to hold the talks directly and it was possible to lift the sanctions after the talks.

　　The Iranian side’s trip to the United States this time can be described as a thorn all the way. The 74th session of the United Nations General Assembly opened on September 17, 2019. Earlier, Iranian President Rouhani and Foreign Minister Zarif were delayed in obtaining American visas. Rouhani and Zarif "may cancel" their trip "if (the US) doesn’t issue visas within a few hours", Yitong News Agency reported on the 18th. On the same day, Trump said on the Iranian visa issue, "This matter does not depend on me." It was not until 19th that the Iranian delegation to the United Nations announced that the United States issued visas to the Iranian President and Foreign Minister, allowing them to attend the UN General Assembly in new york.

　　Iran said earlier that only when the United States returns to the agreement can the two sides contact. (Photo: Associated Press)

　　On the other hand, the repeated statements of the United States do not rule out the possibility of Trump meeting Rouhani during the UN General Assembly. On the 4th, after imposing additional sanctions on Iran, when asked about the possibility of meeting with Iranian leaders during the UN General Assembly, Trump said that "everything is possible". When he delivered a speech at the UN General Assembly on 24th, Trump also said that the possibility of direct dialogue with Iran was not ruled out, but the sanctions would not be lifted in advance.

　　However, the premise of the Iraqi side is that the United States must lift the sanctions before there can be talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said on the 22 nd that the premise of holding talks is that Trump promised to ease sanctions against Iran. Iranian President Rouhani also said in his speech at the general debate of the United Nations General Assembly on 25th that Iran has never bowed to foreign forces and refused to negotiate with those who imposed "the harshest sanctions in history". (Compile/Overseas Network Hou Xingchuan)