TEHRAN – The mayor of Tehran who is currently running for president said he is not opposed to negotiating with the West to reduce tensions, but won’t tolerate disrespect and deceit solely for the sake of engaging in talks with Western states.

“If the United States of America takes the right position and compensates for its past mistakes, there will definitely be no obstacle to dialogue. The world does not merely consist of America and two or three European countries. We emphasize that mutual respect must be observed in negotiations and we must respect each other," Alireza Zakani stated in response to a question by the Tehran Times during a Tuesday press conference. 

"The Islamic Republic of Iran is currently one of the powers of the East. We have good relations with countries like China and Russia, which are also powerful,” he said, explaining that Iran should enter negotiations from a position of power. 

Zakani who is known to be an outspoken critic of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Actions (JCPOA) also commented on his repeated criticism of the deal. "I have mentioned the advantages and disadvantages of the pact in a previous report, and our perspective has been analytical, not black and white."

The mayor also condemned Europe for laying the blame for the JCPOA’s collapse at Iran’s feet. "Europeans have no right to view Iran with entitlement. They are the ones that possess nuclear bombs, not us,” he said. 

The JCPOA is a deal signed on Iran’s nuclear program by Iran, the U.S., Britain, France, Germany, China, and Russia in 2015. It limited the West Asian country’s nuclear activities in return for the termination of sanctions. The JCPOA fell apart when Washington announced its withdrawal in 2018 and proceeded to re-impose sanctions against Iran. European signatories to the deals have also failed to uphold their commitments. 

The rest of the presidential candidate’s remarks throughout the press conference were focused on the economy and culture. Zakani said he had devised 14 “transformation packages” that would address different aspects of the Iranian citizens' lives in the span of 4 years. 

“Iran faces challenges in areas such as costs of living, housing, employment, and healthcare. However, the country also has significant opportunities for development and progress that should be pursued to enhance its presence on the international stage. By leveraging these opportunities effectively, Iran can serve as a model for others to follow and contribute to the formation of a new Islamic civilization,” he said.