Afkham covered a wide range of topics on Iran and the 5+1 nuclear negotiations, as well as a number of regional and international issues.
On nuclear talks, Afkham maintained that the negotiation process was moving forward at the level of deputies in Vienna today. The negotiators would continue preparing the draft of the agreement to settle the points which still required political decisions.
She added that the drafting has not yet been finished. Once the agreement was signed by the involved parties, it would go to the UN Security Council which would then issue a resolution to nullify its previous resolutions on anti-Iranian sanctions.
Noting the process of drafting the deal would be completed in two weeks, Afkham added the draft would then be used as the basis for future negotiations and that Iran was ready to extend the nuclear talks if necessary.
Elsewhere, Afkham touched upon the Yemen issue, saying Iran had been among the first countries to announce Yemen situation required a political solution, not a military one.
Stressing that the talks should be Yemeni-Yemeni talks with no foreign interference to pave the ground for a comprehensive government to come to power, Afkham asserted that Iran would spare no effort for the progress of a political solution to Yemeni conflict; “this does not mean our presence during the negotiations, only to encourage it,” she said.
Afkham also asserted that Iranian aid ship sailing to Yemen was in full coordination with the United Nations and any moves out of coordination against the aid ship would face international reactions.
On the Jeddah airport harassment in which the Saudi airport officials had sexually assaulted two Iranian pilgrims, Afkham maintained that both the embassy in Riyadh and Iran’s counselor in Jeddah are following up on the case; “the case has been referred to relevant courts and currently we are awaiting the results of the trial and the verdict.”
Afkham then touched upon Iran’s defense minister’s visit to Iraq, saying cooperation between the two countries was very close and strategic and that Iran was ready to offer any kind of assistance requested by Iraq on fighting terrorism.
She also stated that Iran and Pakistan were holding talks on some border issues.
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