"We welcome any meeting with the countries of the region and we are interested in it, but the fact that foreigners want to play a role in the region is not in our interest and in the interest of the countries in the region," said Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said in an interview with the state TV on Monday night after participation in the Baghdad Summit.

He stressed Iran's continued support for Iraq, and said "We do not consider the presence of foreigners and occupiers in the region useful."

Amir Abdollahian also pointed to the Vienna talks on reviving the JCPOA, saying, "We have clearly stated to the other side that the Islamic Republic of Iran welcomes a logical negotiation, and we certainly do not seek to escape from the negotiating table, but it is a very important point that the 13th administration believes in negotiations that have tangible achievements in the interests of the Iranian people."

"Negotiation is one of the tools of diplomacy, and we hope that good things will happen in this regard and that the other parties will be present at the negotiating table on the basis of wisdom, not non-constructive messages," he added.

Regarding the next round of talks, Amir Abdollahian said, "The other side understands that it will take two to three months for the new government to take office and plan for any decision."

Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian Foreign Minister pointed to the latest developments in Afghanistan, saying, "We support a government in Afghanistan that respects the will of the people of the country in determining their own destiny, and it is important that the inclusive government, with the participation of all Afghan ethnic groups, takes a unique political solution to Afghanistan's problems."

"Americans are behind all the incidents that have happened in Afghanistan," he noted, " adding, "If foreigners give up on Afghanistan, the leaders of all Afghan tribes, parties and groups have the wisdom to decide for themselves the future of their country."

"We support a secure and stable Afghanistan and, of course, an Afghanistan whose people have a say in their destiny," the top diplomat said.

"We started talks with some of Afghanistan's neighbors, including Pakistan. We also have plans and consultations with Afghanistan's other neighbors. Our goal is to use the capacity of Afghanistan's neighbors to help achieve the desired situation in this country," AmirAbdollahian said about Afghanistan neighbors meeting.

The Iranian foreign ministry declared on Monday that the country does not hold any direct or indirect talks with the US, adding that the nuclear deal does not need any mediator.

“The nuclear deal does not need a mediator. We have no direct or indirect talks with the US. The talks in Vienna are between Iran and the G4+1. We have not yet seen a change in Washington's behavior so far, and they are pursuing a better outcome with the same behavior and policies,” Foreign Ministry Spokesman Saeed Khatibzadeh told reporters in a press conference in Tehran.

He added that all the agreements reached in Vienna and what is left show the stubbornness and irrational behavior of the American and Western sides, noting that as soon as a change in their behavior is witnessed, the nuclear deal will be returnable.

“The nuclear deal is pursued in a separate case from the regional issues,” Khatibzadeh underlined.

He reminded that Iran has never left the nuclear deal and it was the US which withdrew and violated the agreement, saying, “All parties in the nuclear deal should pay close attention to the fact that the coming days are very important days for them to be careful in the way they speak and present their positions. Any action that is not constructive is definitely detrimental to the Vienna talks. Iran will make its decision based on the behavior of the other parties. What is important is that we resume the talks in Vienna in cooperation with the G4+1.”

“The Vienna talks are not aimed at reaching a new text. The Vienna talks are aimed at ensuring that the US implements the nuclear deal precisely. If the US returns to all of its undertakings under the nuclear deal and the UN Security Council Resolution 2231 in a verified manner, Iran will agree to have the US sit in the room where the nuclear deal talks are held. These are technical talks that have been conducted in detail in the presence of certain relevant parties in Vienna, and it will continue in the same manner,” Khatibzadeh said.

Amir Abdollahian in a phone conversation with EU foreign policy chief Joseph Borrell last Friday underlined that Tehran will continue participation in Vienna talks provided that they secure the country’s interests and yield tangible results.

“Negotiations that have tangible and practical results and is accompanied by securing the rights and interests of the people are acceptable to Iran,” Amir Abdollahian said.

He emphasized Tehran's commitment to dialogue and “constructive interaction within the framework of balanced diplomacy,” and regarded negotiations as a “tool for diplomacy”.

The top Iranian diplomat referred to the law passed by the parliament on nuclear issues as binding on Iran’s government and said, “In any negotiation, the real action of the other parties must be proven in accordance with their obligations."

In December 2020, Iranian legislators passed a law to further accelerate the development of the nuclear program, which came as a firm reaction to Washington’s 2018 withdrawal from the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) and the imposition of illegal sanctions by the US against Iran.

Iran and the remaining signatories to the JCPOA have already held six rounds of talks in Vienna, which began after the US administration of President Joe Biden voiced willingness to rejoin the nuclear agreement, three years after former President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the deal.

Negotiators took a break from the talks after Seyed Ebrahim Rayeesi emerged victorious in Iran’s June presidential election, waiting for Iran’s democratic transition to take place in order for them to be able to continue the talks, as disagreements remained unresolved on key issues.

Tehran argues that since Washington was the party that violated the terms of the agreement, it should take the first step back into compliance with the deal by removing its unilateral sanctions.

During the phone talks, Borrell congratulated the election of Amir Abdollahian as foreign minister and expressed the European Union’s readiness to expand cooperation with Tehran, stressing that participation of the High Representative of the Union at the inauguration ceremony of the Iranian president showed the bloc’s determination in this regard.

Referring to the union's role as coordinator of the Vienna talks, Borrell stressed the bloc’s hopes for the establishment of the new Iranian government as soon as possible and for the announcement of a date on behalf of Tehran for the next Vienna meeting.