Iran Made No Commitments in Geneva Nuclear Talks, Says Diplomat
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s deputy foreign minister who also had a leading role in the Geneva nuclear talks told a parliamentary commission that his country made no commitment there, adding that none of the country’s red lines are ever subject to negotiations.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi made the comments while briefing a parliamentary committee on the two-day discussions between Iran and the six powers -- the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany -- in Geneva on October 15-16.
The top Iranian nuclear negotiator said that the country’s proposal presented in the latest talks between Tehran and world powers was aimed at protecting Iranian rights to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.
The defined goal is safeguarding Iran’s nuclear rights, both in terms of uranium enrichment and in fuel production field, Araqchi was quoted as saying by rapporteur of Parliament’s National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, Mansour Haqiqatpour on Sunday.
“And that the other side is assured that our use of nuclear energy is peaceful and, in return, the sanctions would be totally lifted,” adds the quotation.
On the first day of the closed-door negotiations, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif presented Tehran’s new proposal titled “Closing an Unnecessary Crisis, Opening New Horizons” to the participants.
The two sides have agreed to keep the details of the proposal confidential for the time being.
“Araqchi stated that the Iranian negotiating team strongly emphasized the country’s inalienable rights and that the nuclear team felt obliged to protect them,” said the Iranian lawmaker.
Haqiqatpour said that Araqchi also strongly rejected some Israeli media reports about the contents of Iran’s nuclear talks with the six powers.
The discussions in Geneva brought together Iranian officials and representatives of the G5+1 - the permanent members of the UN Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the US) plus Germany - also known as the P5+1 or E3+3.
The two sides wrapped up two days of discussions in Geneva on Wednesday. Further talks will take place on November 7-8 in Geneva, which are to be preceded by sessions attended by scientific and sanctions experts to address differences and to develop practical steps.
In Geneva, Tehran presented a three-step plan that aims to bring the standoff over the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear program to an end. Araqchi said Tehran would consider talks on the level of uranium enrichment, as well as adoption of the Additional Protocol, in the final stage of its proposed plan offered in Geneva.
The Additional Protocol also substantially expands the IAEA's ability to check for clandestine nuclear facilities by providing the agency with authority to visit any facility, declared or not, to investigate questions about or inconsistencies in a state's nuclear declarations. NPT states-parties are not required to adopt an additional protocol, although the IAEA is urging all to do so.
Iran, a signatory of the NPT, voluntarily implemented the additional protocol between 2003 and 2005 but ceased to apply it after its nuclear case was sent to the United Nations Security Council. The country's parliament has not ratified the document.