Iranian FM Abdollahian: We Have Good Relations With The UAE, But Meeting With Israelis Is A Betrayal Of The Palestinian Cause; Lavrov Clarified That Russia Has Not Taken The Nuclear Deal Hostage For The Sake Of The Ukraine Crisis

Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian discussed Iran's ties with Russia, on Mayadeen TV (Lebanon) on March 25, 2022. He said that in response to a statement by Russian FM Lavrov, demanding that the nuclear talks have no impact on Russia's relations with Iran, he flew to Moscow to meet with Lavrov. Amir-Abdollahian said that in the meeting, Lavrov said that the Russians would not pose obstacles before the nuclear deal. He said that this means that the "ball is in the court of the Americans." Amir-Abdollahian also said that Iran has good relations with the UAE, but any meeting with an Israeli official, is a betrayal of the cause of Jerusalem and Palestine and that relations with the Zionist entity constitute an Iranian "red line."

Hossein Amir-Abdollahian: "We condemn any meeting with any Israeli official. Any such meeting constitutes a betrayal of the cause of Jerusalem and Palestine. As you know, we have good relations with the UAE. We have close relations. The UAE is our neighbor. However, we will never forget our 'red line' regarding relations with the Zionist entity. The Israelis must leave the Persian Gulf. Soon it will become evident that the Persian Gulf and our region refuse to accept any Israeli influence.

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"Some people said that the Russians have taken the nuclear agreement hostage for the sake of the Ukrainian crisis. Even inside Iran, the public questioned Lavrov's statements. Some people. Asked me whether Lavrov's statement contradicted [Iran's] slogan: 'We are neither with the East nor the West.' So I called Mr. Lavrov, and said to him: 'Mr. Lavrov, if we reach the point of agreement [with the Americans], we will do what serves Iran's interests. Mr. Lavrov, I do not consider what you said to be an obstacle to an agreement, but there are some things that require further explanation.'

"This is why I traveled to Moscow and visited Lavrov. I presented the issue and [Lavrov] said: 'We do not object to an agreement. Our envoy, Ulyanov, is also working to achieve an agreement. If and when you reach an agreement with the American side, let us know and we are ready to support that agreement.' So the ball is entirely in the court of the Americans."