Iran Ready to Allay Nuclear Concerns: Top Negotiator
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian foreign minister and senior negotiator voiced the country’s preparedness to address international concerns about its peaceful nuclear program, but at the same time voiced Tehran's opposition to other parties' efforts to impose demands on Iran in the course of talks.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran does not need anything beyond its rights and is ready to allay the concerns of the international community, but we believe that imposition is no way to hold talks,” Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Wednesday, after arriving in Vienna to attend a new round of nuclear talks with world powers.
Diplomats representing Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, the US, Britain, China, France and Germany) are in the Austrian capital to hold talks for reaching a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear energy program before a July 20 deadline.
Under an interim deal, signed by the seven nations in November 2013, the parties should draw up a comprehensive nuclear agreement over the course of six months that would lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on Iran.
“In this round of talks, the negotiating sides must enter into drafting (the text of the final deal) by July 20,” Zarif stated, adding that any excessive demands by the other side would undermine the negotiation process.
He also made it clear that the Islamic Republic will never give up to coercion in negotiating with the world powers, as it has never done before.
This is the sixth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3) since February.
Coordinated by the European Union, the whole negotiations are aimed at resolving the decade-long standoff on Iran’s nuclear energy program.