Xinhua News Agency, Tehran, October 30 (Reporter Chen Xiaoshadati) According to a report by the Islamic Republic of Iran News Agency on the 30th, Iranian Foreign Minister Araghzi said when meeting with local officials in East Azerbaijan province of Iran on the same day that Iran is ready to respond if all parties are ready to conduct fair and mutually respectful negotiations.

"As long as the negotiating parties are willing to consult on an equal basis, to reach an agreement on the basis of mutual respect and to abandon the threat of means of intimidation, Iran will respond at all times."

He stressed that Iran has always been open to negotiations and diplomacy, but it only makes sense to negotiate based on mutual respect and common interests, not threats of pressure.

The U.S. and Iran have held five rounds of indirect talks since April of this year, where the two sides have had huge differences on core issues such as uranium enrichment. The sixth round of talks was scheduled for June 15, cancelled due to Israeli assault on Iran. During the 12-day conflict in Iran, the U.S. bombed Iran¡¯s nuclear facilities, in response to which Iran used missiles to strike the U.S. air base in Udeed in Qatar. In order to pressure Iran to resume talks with the U.S., Britain, France and Germany notified the UN Security Council on August 28 that Iran violated the Iran nuclear deal and launched a ¡°rapid reinstatement¡± mechanism. On September 19, the Security Council failed to pass a draft resolution aimed at continuing the lifting

The Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued a statement on October 18 saying that the 10-year period stipulated in the Joint Comprehensive Action Plan (i.e., the Iran Nuclear Agreement) and its corresponding United Nations Security Council Resolution 2231 will expire on the same day. The resolution targets Iran's peaceful nuclear program. All restrictions and related mechanisms set up should be deemed terminated.