Iran says open to dialogue with US

By Ahmed Dursun

TEHRAN (AA) – Iran is open to dialogue with the U.S., Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif said Tuesday.

"We do not have preconditions, but we can say that what is required for dialogue is mutual respect, not mutual confidence," Zarif told Japan’s Kyodo news agency.

"Usually people (who) engage in negotiation do not necessarily have trust and confidence in each other, but it requires mutual respect," he said.

In May, U.S. President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew Washington from a 2015 landmark nuclear deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of nations -- the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany.

Trump began to reinstate U.S. sanctions on Tehran in August, with sanctions targeting Iran's oil sector set to retake effect on Nov. 4.

The sanctions are expected to impact Iranian oil exports, which provide Tehran with the revenue needed to finance its national budget.

European Union countries along with Turkey have condemned Trump’s action, vowing to find ways to bypass the re-imposed sanctions.

Zarif said Tehran will be able to overcome U.S. sanctions, considering that "many countries have shown readiness to do business with Iran."

"For the time being, we are selling our oil (and) we are able to maintain our economy," he said.