Iran Open to “Proportional Steps” in Nuclear Talks: Top Official
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) recommended the parties engaged in nuclear talks with Iran to be ready to receive proportional response from Tehran to their attitude in the course of negotiations.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran’s attitude toward the (nuclear) negotiations has come along goodwill, and the International Atomic Energy Agency’s reports also admit it,” Ali Shamkhani said in a meeting with Georgian Parliament Speaker Davit Usupashvili in Tehran on Sunday.
“However” Shamkhani added “we will show the proper reaction and take necessary measures proportional to the other side’s behavior and performance.”
The senior official further described Iran nuclear talks as the "litmus test" for the sextet's sincerity in sticking to the course of talks and lifting the entire "unlawful and cruel" sanctions against Iran.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are in talks to hammer out a final agreement to end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.
Moreover, Shamkhani put the ball in the court of the Group 5+1 (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3), saying the responsibility for any “obstruction of the course of talks” or “adoption of stances whose futility have been already proved” will lie with the other side.
For his part, the Georgian speaker voiced support for Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, expressing the hope that diplomatic negotiations would lead to a comprehensive accord that recognizes Iran’s rights.
Usupashvili also stressed the need for expansion of relations between Tehran and Tbilisi.