Iranian Negotiator Urges Parties Engaged in N. Talks to End Language of Threat
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The countries that are negotiating with Iran on its peaceful nuclear program should abandon the language of threat, an Iranian deputy foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator said, adding that they have to make more tough decisions as well.
Speaking in a television talk show on Saturday night, Seyed Abbas Araqchi insisted that the sextet of world powers should stop “the language of threat” in dealing with Iran’s peaceful nuclear case.
He made a reference to an interim nuclear deal between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), and said, “The other side has so far made tough decisions so that we have reached this point, when they made the tough decision of relinquishing zero-percent (uranium) enrichment in the Geneva deal.”
On November 24, 2013, the two sides inked a six-month deal in the Swiss city of Geneva. The interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action) has entitled Iran to continue its uranium enrichment program.
The two sides wrapped up the latest round of their nuclear talks in Vienna on May 16. The negotiations, aimed at drafting the text of a final comprehensive agreement, came to an end without any tangible results.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Araqchi made clear that the negotiating parties are trying to reach a consensus, but also underlined that the world powers “once again have to make tough decisions.”
“Our (nuclear) rights should be respected. We seek an agreement which recognizes our nation’s rights, and we will not accept any other deal.”
Iranian officials have repeatedly voiced opposition to the West’s illogical demands in the course of talks on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Back in November, after Iran and the six nations inked the interim deal, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei underscored that always "resistance against excessive demands” should be regarded as an indicator which sets “the direct line" for the relevant officials who handle the nuclear negotiations.
