Iran

Such "threadbare" GCC statements fail to have any other function but create regional tensions, and are apparently aimed at "neutralising" the outcomes of the Islamic republic's diplomatic move and interactions with neighbours, friendly states and partners, said Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh on Thursday.

"If the United States announces its political decision, we can take an important step in this regard," Khatibzadeh said on Monday during his weekly press conference, reaffirming Iran's demands that its legal rights should be respected and all pressures exerted by former US President Donald Trump removed.

"Iran is serious in the process of the Vienna talks and fulfillment of its international commitments, including those pertaining to the removal of the sanctions, to the same extent that it is determined to refrain from trusting the enemy and relying on foreigners for protection from the coercive measures," he said.

Amir Abdollahian said that the visit of Enrique Mora, the EU chief coordinator for the Iran nuclear talks, and his talks with Iranian chief nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri Kani "were another opportunity to focus on initiatives to resolve the remaining issues", reports Xinhua news agency. Henstressed the contacts among these sides are continuing.

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian made the remarks in a phone conversation with his Irish counterpart Simon Coveney, Xinhua news agency reported, citing the Iranian Foreign Ministry's website. In addition to developing and proposing political initiatives, Iran has shown that it has the necessary will to reach a "good", "strong" and "lasting" agreement in the Vienna talks, the Iranian top diplomat was quoted as saying.

The remarks were made by Ali Bahadori-Jahromi, spokesman of the Iranian government, in response to talk that the US is close to admitting the failure of the Vienna nuclear talks, reports Xinhua news agency. The nuclear negotiations are among Iran's top priorities, Bahadori-Jahromi noted. Iran will continue efforts within the framework of the international diplomatic mechanisms until it protects its economic interests and nuclear rights

One of the missiles, called "Emad-3," is a new version of Iran's surface-to-surface ballistic missiles Emad which was displayed by IRGC on Friday, Xinhua news agency reported. Developed by the IRGC's Aerospace Force, Emad-3 is Iran's first fully homegrown long-range missile with the ability to be guided and controlled until it hits the target, said the report.

As a country targeted with unilateral sanctions for many years, Iran cannot recognise such similar sanctions and embargoes against other countries, Khatibzadeh added on Monday at a weekly press conference. Stressing that Iran is not a proponent of war, he urged dialogue and diplomacy to end the ongoing Russia-Ukraine crisis, Xinhua news agency reported.

While negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna stalled a year after they began, Tehran and Washington have ramped up their rhetorical war, demanding political decisions from the other side to bridge the final gap, Xinhua news agency reported. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian on Thursday said his country "does not pay attention to excessive demands nor will it retreat from its red lines".

History has proven that aggression and occupation will never lead to order, stability and calm, Bagheri told a meeting with Iranian Army Commanders on Sunday, according to the Foreign Ministry's website. He noted that because of its occupying and aggressive nature, Israel has caused insecurity and tensions, Xinhua news agency reported.