It is impossible to easily restore the bilateral relations between Iran and the United States because of the gap remaining between the two countries for over 32 years, Iranian former Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in an interview with Modiriyat-e Ertebatat (Communication Management) 42 hours before his retirement.
Mottaki said that relations between Iran and the United States are determined by two aspects, on the one hand, by the ties between the two countries, which are not included in the agenda of the Iranian Foreign Ministry.
"But this does not mean that Iran intends to keep the tension. But much must be done to resume diplomatic relations.
The diplomatic relations between two countries were broken 30 years ago.
The diplomatic crisis between Iran and the U.S. began November 4, 1979, when a group of students - active supporters of the Islamic Revolution in Iran - seized the U.S. embassy in Tehran. The diplomats, their families and embassy personnel were taken hostage. 53 Americans were kept for 444 days - until 20 January 1981.
This incident led to breaking Iranian-U.S diplomatic relations. They have not been restored up to now.
Another aspect is the issue of safety and interests of the two countries in the region, particularly in Iraq and Afghanistan.
"If the U.S. offer to discuss these issues, Iran will support this initiative," he said.
At present, the United States is one of the countries accusing Iran of developing nuclear weapons for military purposes under the guise of peaceful atom program. Tehran denies all the charges, saying that its nuclear program has only peaceful purposes.
However, it is the United States that not only supplied Iran with one of the most important nuclear facilities of the country - the Tehran nuclear reactor in 1960s of the last century, but sent weapons-grade uranium required for its operation.