On March 3, U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee said that the recent talks between Iran and the world’s six major powers in Kazakhstan were “a turning point.” Iran feels that “both sides are getting closer to each other,” he told CNN’s Fareed Zakaria. But Khazaee also warned against threatening Iran during nuclear negotiations.
The ambassador also commented on U.S. calls for direct talks with Iran. “We welcome any kind of dialogue and talks with the United States,” he said. But Khazaee stipulated that Washington must be “serious” and “honest.”
Zakaria asked Khazaee what he thought about the American thriller “Argo,” which was named best picture at the Oscars in February. “Whoever in Iran saw the film, they felt insulted by America.” The ambassador claimed the film’s content was “politically wrong and technically wrong.” The following are excerpts from Khazaee’s interview, with a link to the full transcript.
U.N. Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee
Nuclear Program and Negotiations
“…[W]e have to have a realistic approach in the negotiation… But the feeling that Iranians have from the negotiation is that both sides are getting closer to each other. That's the main point…”
“But when they decide to negotiate with each other with more comprehensive, simultaneous steps should be taken, these are the important points…”
“…[M]y understanding is that Iranians will be able to enrich uranium at least at the 5 percent level if what they did for need TRR (Tehran Research Reactor) and for our more than 1 million patients it provided. So these are the good and positive signs that we can take. But, of course, we still have a far way to go ahead to fulfill Iranians' expectation from the other side for a confidence-building measures.”
“But I think, over the last few years, it was a turning point in the negotiations between Iran and the 5 plus 1...”
“But when they decide to negotiate with each other with more comprehensive, simultaneous steps should be taken, these are the important points…”
“…[M]y understanding is that Iranians will be able to enrich uranium at least at the 5 percent level if what they did for need TRR (Tehran Research Reactor) and for our more than 1 million patients it provided. So these are the good and positive signs that we can take. But, of course, we still have a far way to go ahead to fulfill Iranians' expectation from the other side for a confidence-building measures.”
“But I think, over the last few years, it was a turning point in the negotiations between Iran and the 5 plus 1...”
“But Iranians stood against the pressure and hegemony of outside countries against them [during the Iran-Iraq War in the 1980s]. So we are a nation that we have stood about eight years fighting and defending ourselves.”
“So, therefore, with such a nation and the history that you know very well, talking about pressure, putting about -- threatening Iran is not going to work.”
“So, therefore, with such a nation and the history that you know very well, talking about pressure, putting about -- threatening Iran is not going to work.”
U.S.-Iran Relations
“Iran is for negotiation and definitely we welcome any kind of dialogue and talks with the United States, as well as many other countries, all of the countries around the world…”
“The clear message of Iran is that if we see that United States is serious and is honest about this proposal for negotiation, cooperation, direct talks with the Iranians, Iranians will accept it and we will welcome it definitely.”
“There is doubt that that. I can confirm it here with you and also for your distinguished audience that Iran will come negotiation and direct talks with the United States provided that we make sure that U.S. is serious and do not act differently…”
“There is doubt that that. I can confirm it here with you and also for your distinguished audience that Iran will come negotiation and direct talks with the United States provided that we make sure that U.S. is serious and do not act differently…”
“The most important point is that some officials in United States should understand how to speak with the Iranians… But the point is that Iranians should make sure that American is not using pressure on Iran for negotiation.”
“Negotiation should be for negotiation, talks to find common ground and solve if there's any misunderstanding or there is a problem that obviously exists…”
“Negotiation should be for negotiation, talks to find common ground and solve if there's any misunderstanding or there is a problem that obviously exists…”
“Argo”
“… I was member of the Festival Film Jury for five years when I was in Iran. From the technical point of view, to be honest with you, if I was a judge, the movie is a very weak movie.”
“I'm not saying it is just a very weak or is not compatible with other kind of movies which Hollywood movies, but, compared to "Lincoln", compared to "Life of Pi", compared to the "Les Miserables", you know it did not deserve to receive Oscar prize first of all.
“There are many mistakes in the movie. For instance, you are familiar with our culture. Even the producer or the director, they are not familiar with the Iranian culture…”
“So even that much, the producer or director or (inaudible) of the movie were not familiar with the Iranian culture. And, to be honest with you, whoever in Iran saw the film, they felt insulted by America.”
“It was politically wrong and technically wrong and I think the producer of the film that is known as the Ambassador of Peace as I heard should be ashamed of producing such a film that, from the technical point of view, political point of view, was wrong, as well as insulting a big nation like Iran.”
“I would like to invite the producer and the director of the film to travel to Iran and then they travel to Iran, the day after they will apologize from the big nation of Iran for producing such a weak film.”
“There are many mistakes in the movie. For instance, you are familiar with our culture. Even the producer or the director, they are not familiar with the Iranian culture…”
“So even that much, the producer or director or (inaudible) of the movie were not familiar with the Iranian culture. And, to be honest with you, whoever in Iran saw the film, they felt insulted by America.”
“It was politically wrong and technically wrong and I think the producer of the film that is known as the Ambassador of Peace as I heard should be ashamed of producing such a film that, from the technical point of view, political point of view, was wrong, as well as insulting a big nation like Iran.”
“I would like to invite the producer and the director of the film to travel to Iran and then they travel to Iran, the day after they will apologize from the big nation of Iran for producing such a weak film.”
Click here for the full transcript.