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Dr Mohammad Fatahli also said Indians are safe in Iran as he held the United States responsible for the violence against Tehran
Iran’s Ambassador to India Dr. Mohammad Fathali. (x)
Chabahar Project Iran’s Ambassador to India Dr. Mohammad Fathali, in an exclusive interview to CNN-News18, termed the media reports as speculation and said that it has never stopped and is continuously moving forward despite the sanctions. Noting that Tehran is open to negotiations with the United States, Fatahli stressed that no official details of any new proposals have been released. He underlined that Iran wants “durable and lasting peace” rather than a cycle of war and ceasefire, stressing that Tehran’s non-negotiable red lines include the right to peaceful nuclear energy under the NPT and the removal of “unjust” sanctions.
rejecting claims by US President Donald Trump That Iran is close to “collapse”, the envoy said such statements are unrealistic, and added that Iran is prepared for a prolonged standoff. He also confirmed the good health of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, calling the rumors propaganda aimed at weakening public morale.
Read this also Oil reaches $ 120 per barrel for the first time after 2022 as America increases pressure on Iran
edited excerpt
Your government has recently presented a new proposal to America which is delaying the nuclear talks. Can you outline its key terms and explain why Iran believes this could break the current impasse? How long will the ceasefire last?
No official details of this proposal have been released yet. Whatever has come in the media is mere speculation. We believe that ending the war and establishing a lasting peace can create the conditions necessary to resolve other issues. We do not want to get trapped in the vicious cycle of war, ceasefire, talks and then war again. We have always said that we are ready for both war and peace, and we welcome any negotiations aimed at achieving durable and lasting peace.
What are Iran’s non-negotiable conditions for any revived nuclear deal with the US, and will immediate removal of sanctions be a condition?
What is non-negotiable for us is the legitimate right of the Iranian people to benefit from peaceful nuclear energy. We are members of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT), and we have so far acted within the framework of international rules. Naturally, the removal of all unjust sanctions imposed on the Iranian people is one of our most important preconditions for any negotiations.
Over the past 47 years, the United States and its allies have exerted extensive pressure on the Iranian people through the most harsh and inhumane sanctions. Freezing billions of dollars of Iranian assets, medical sanctions that threaten the lives of millions of our citizens, blocking purchases of new aircraft, and even restrictions on the import of aircraft parts are all part of these unjust policies aimed at pressuring the Iranian people.
Even now, by deploying military ships in the region and deploying the most advanced military equipment, they want to confront our people just because Iran wants to remain an independent country and maintain its national dignity.
Amid rising US-Iran tensions, will Iran guarantee safe passage for Indian ships through the Strait of Hormuz, especially for critical oil imports, or are there any conditions attached?
The Islamic Republic of Iran has stressed that it is committed to ensuring maritime security in accordance with international rules. We have said that ships from countries that have not participated in the US-Israeli aggression against Iran can continue to pass through the Strait of Hormuz.
In this regard, our friendly countries including India do not face any restrictions in transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Till now many Indian ships have passed through this route with complete safety and this trend will continue in future also.
Naturally, for better management of the situation, certain rules for passing through the strait have been established, and all ships are required to comply with them. However, Iran has demonstrated utmost cooperation and flexibility towards Indian ships and ships of other non-participating countries.
Since India invests heavily Chabahar PortHow is Iran ensuring its development amid sanctions, and what benefits will this bring for bilateral trade, especially access to Afghanistan and Central Asia?
We believe that economic and development cooperation, especially major regional projects like Chabahar, should not be affected by a unilateral approach and illegal sanctions. Chabahar Port is a strategic project of regional and international importance, playing a vital role in enhancing regional connectivity, especially for its access to India and Central Asia.
We continue to seriously pursue the development of the port and believe that the benefits of this cooperation are not limited only to Iran and India; All countries in the region can benefit from this.
Despite the restrictions, the project has never stopped and is continuously moving forward. The Chabahar-Zahedan Railway, a vital link for the port’s transit capacity, has now reached 90 percent physical progress. Rail laying work in the Chabahar section is expected to be completed by mid-June this year, connecting the port to Iran’s national railway network.
Additionally, improvements to public services, including the construction of a hospital and development of hotels, are expected to be completed by August or September 2026, providing the necessary infrastructure to transform the area into a sustainable economic and social hub.
There are around 10,000 Indians living in Iran, including the Sikh community who practice freely in the Tehran Gurdwara. What measures is your government taking to ensure their security and religious freedom amid regional tensions?
From our point of view, there is no difference between Indian citizens and Iranian citizens in Iran. We are making every possible effort to ensure their safety. The security of both Indians and Iranians is threatened by the aggressive acts of the United States and the Zionist regime. The bitter reality is that our enemies do not believe in any religion or faith; During this act of aggression, he also attacked a Jewish synagogue in Tehran, which shows his anti-religious and terrorist nature.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is the most open country in the region to followers of different religions. Based on our Constitution and moral values, we guarantee the security and freedom of all religious communities. The community of about 10,000 Indian nationals, including Sikhs, is a respected part of our society, and for decades they have been freely practicing their religion and holding their ceremonies without any restrictions in their religious centres, including the Gurdwara in Tehran.
In Iran, followers of all divine religions and different religions freely practice their rituals and face no problems in doing so. However, what now threatens religious freedom and human life throughout the region are the criminal actions of the United States and the Zionist regime.
President Trump has claimed that Iran’s oil reserves have been exhausted within weeks due to the US blockade and are in “collapse”. What impact is this having on global oil supplies, especially India, and what is Iran’s contingency plan?
Experience has shown that references to “a few days” or “a few weeks” in the US President’s rhetoric are unrealistic. At the beginning of this act of aggression, he claimed that the Islamic Republic of Iran would accept defeat within three days and regime change would occur. However, as we have seen, not only did regime change not occur, but this war has made our country more resilient and united.
Such claims should not be taken seriously. Furthermore, we have prepared ourselves for a prolonged upheaval and have taken necessary measures for all possible scenarios going forward.
Pakistan has offered to mediate between Iran and America. Does Tehran trust Islamabad’s neutrality given its close ties with Washington, or do you see this as more posturing than genuine diplomacy? Israel has not been included in the so-called Islamabad talks. How does Iran expect these discussions to succeed without addressing Tel Aviv’s role in regional tensions?
We welcome any initiative that helps reduce tension and leads to peace. It does not matter which country hosts the talks; What matters is that we will negotiate based on our national interests and to secure the legitimate rights of the Iranian people.
Regarding the second part of your question, I should say that our negotiating party is the US government. We do not recognize any regime called Israel for negotiations. Islamabad talks also took place between Iran and America. We believe that the Zionist regime is a false regime built on occupation and aggression. Its 70-year record is full of genocide and killing of civilians.
Rumors are flying about the safety and health of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei. Can you confirm his well-being and explain why this speculation persists amid Iran’s internal challenges?
The Supreme Leader of the Islamic Republic of Iran is in full health and is managing the situation closely. The rumors running in the media about his health have been spread by our enemies with the aim of weakening the morale of our people. However, our people are very aware and cautious and they do not fall for such rumours.
April 30, 2026, 09:26 IST
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