Iran's ambassador to Iraq said on Thursday Tehran would negotiate with Washington only over its nuclear file if its rights were respected but said its ballistic missiles and dismantling Shi'ite militias were not up for discussion.
The remarks by Mohammad Kazem Al-Sadegh in an interview with the Iraqi Alsharqiya TV channel come after Iran officially responded to US President Trump's letter to Supreme Leader Khamenei saying Tehran would not negotiate directly under his stepped-up sanctions.
"We only negotiate the nuclear file," Al-Sadegh said. "On ballistic (missiles) we are not negotiating about them. What remains is the nuclear file. If they expressed conditions and just speech which provide Iran its full rights, then we're ready to negotiate."
Trump has demanded Tehran come to a deal or face a military intervention and warned any attack by Yemen's Houthis would be treated as emanating from Iran, upping the rhetoric against its Mideast foe.
Iran denies seeking a nuclear bomb but the United States and Israel doubt its intentions. Over a year of military blows by Israel on Iran and its armed allies in the region, which it dubs the axis of resistance, have diminished Tehran's sway.
"The resistance in Lebanon is still strong and capable. The resistance in Yemen is active," Al-Sadegh said. "The axis of resistance remains and is alive."
The senior diplomat whose mandate covers one of Iran's most strategic neighbors rejected as unacceptable to Baghdad and Tehran a US demand that a grouping of Iran-aligned Shi'ite militias in Iraq be dissolved or wrapped into the armed forces.
"It talks about the resistance, about the (Popular Mobilization Front). We say the Mobilization is a legal organization and played a big role in the war against Islamic State." He added, "This is unacceptable for both Iran and Iraq. The Hashd al-Shaabi is a legal entity."
The United States and Israel both see Iran as weakened, especially after an Oct. 26 Israeli air attack both say knocked out the country's air defenses.
Al-Sadegh said the axis of resistance was undiminished but that the regional confrontation had eased but could flare again.
"This is a war, there are setbacks and victories," he said.
"The situation now is there is a calming in the region. Developments dictate whether there is action or a response."
