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Iran to pursue Golan raid through ‘diplomatic channels’

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham

Iran has condemned as “state terrorism” Israel’s recent airstrike that killed a top Iranian commander in Syria’s Golan Heights, saying the Islamic Republic will pursue the matter through diplomatic channels.

 Speaking at her weekly press conference on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham dismissed as an instance of state terrorism the Israeli raid that killed six Hezbollah members as well as Iranian commander Brigadier General Mohammad Ali Allahdadi.

“We will pursue the matter through diplomatic means and political channels,” Afkham said.

The Iranian official said that the world is witnessing a wave of state terrorism, calling on countries to recognize the real threat facing the globe and work toward restoring security.

On January 17, an Israeli military helicopter fired two missiles into Amal Farms in the strategic southwestern Syrian city of Quneitra, close to the line separating the Syrian part of the Golan Heights from the Israeli-occupied sector.

The air assault killed six Hezbollah members and the Iranian commander. Following the attack, Israel claimed that it was unaware of the presence of an Iranian commander in the area where the attack happened.

 

Nuclear Talks

Regarding the ongoing nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group, Afkham said the Islamic Republic seeks to reach an agreement with the six countries “as soon as possible, but not at any price.”

She said that Iran is using every possible opportunity to contribute to the negotiations.

Iran has presented certain “initiatives and proposals” to the other side to lead the talks out of stalemate, Afkham said.

She described the talks as “complicated, tough and sensitive” and said gaps have been narrowed to a little extent and that the two sides are now discussing details and technical issues.

Afkham reiterated that a nuclear deal is possible if more good faith and political will is demonstrated to work out details.

Iran and the P5+1 countries - the US, France, Britain, China, Russia and Germany – are in talks to secure a final comprehensive deal over Tehran’s nuclear work.

Since an interim deal was agreed in Geneva in November 2013, the negotiating sides have missed two deadlines to ink a final agreement.

Tehran and the six countries now seek to reach a high-level political agreement by March 1 and to confirm the full technical details of the accord by July 1.

 

AR/NN/HRB


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