Iranian lawmaker points to regional insecurity if UN sanctions reimposed
'We have many tools in our disposition. We can withhold our commitment to security in the region, Persian Gulf and Hormuz Strait and other maritime areas,' Abbas Moqtadaei said in reference to Tehran's potential countermeasures to the reimposition of international sanctions.
He was speaking ahead of a meeting on Friday between Iranian deputy foreign ministers and British, French and German diplomats in Istanbul. The three European states, known as E3, have said they would restore international sanctions on Iran by the end of August if the country did not enter productive talks on its nuclear programme with Western powers, notably the US.
E3 countries and Iran have in recent months held inconclusive talks on Tehran's nuclear programme in parallel to indirect nuclear negotiations between Tehran and Washington. Israel's attack on Iran in June led to the suspension of talks.
'Europe is not in a position to endanger itself in the Hormuz Strait when it is itself in political, economic and cultural conflicts with Russia China and the US,' Moqtadaei said in an interview with Iran's semi-official Borna news agency.
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