Iran Is Serious in Nuclear Talks, President Rouhani Says
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian President Hassan Rouhani reiterated Tehran’s seriousness in nuclear negotiations with world powers.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is serious in the negotiations (with world powers on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program) and has been very transparent on nuclear issues,” the president said Sunday in a meeting with Norwegian Foreign Minister Borge Brende.
Rouhani added that if the negotiating sides have serious resolve, a deal is possible in all areas.
The Iranian chief executive expressed the hope that the talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) will reach a win-win conclusion.
He underlined that Iran’s nuclear activities are under the supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) and carried out within the framework of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).
Rouhani also described the sanctions imposed on Iran as “unacceptable and wrong” adding that sanctions are in no one’s interest.
Iran and the G5+1 (alternatively known as the P5+1 or E3+3) are in talks to hammer out a final deal to end a decade of impasse over Tehran’s civilian nuclear work.
On November 24, 2013, Iran and the G5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Based on the interim deal, the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and to impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran’s decision to freeze parts of its nuclear activities.
The Geneva deal (the Joint Plan of Action) came into effect in January and expired in July, when the parties decided to extend negotiations until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal that would end a decade of impasse over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.
Elsewhere in his remarks in meeting with Brende, President Rouhani referred to the good relations between Iran and Norway and called for the development of bilateral ties.
The Norwegian minister, for his part, highlighted Iran’s important position in the region and said Tehran has great potentials for establishing security and stability in the region.
Brende also said conditions are right for the expansion of Tehran-Oslo relations.