Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Friday, March 29th, 2024

Iran May Not Sacrifice N. Rights: Zarif

Iran May Not  Sacrifice N. Rights: Zarif

TEHRAN - Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined Tehran's seriousness in the talks with the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany), and said the country will not sacrifice its nuclear rights for the sake of fruitful talks.

"It is important to us that the world has understood by now that we speak righteously and logically," Zarif told reporters on the sidelines of the annual convention of Iranian ambassadors and top diplomats in Tehran on Tuesday night.

"We want to achieve results but this doesn’t mean that we will give up our rights to make the talks fruitful," he added.

Zarif said if the Americans make correct choices, the world will be a better place.

Last month, Iran and the G5+1 had over two weeks of negotiations in Vienna with no final agreement between the two sides, but they extended their July 20 deadline for a few more months.

During the talks, a senior member of the Iranian team of negotiators stressed that the excessive demands made by the other side are the root cause of the differences between Tehran and the world powers.

At the end of their talks, the two sides agreed to extend the talks till November 24 for brokering a final deal.

Zarif and EU foreign policy Catherine Ashton in a joint statement after over two weeks of talks stressed the need for more efforts and time to reach an agreement with the world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.

Due to certain differences over some fundamental issues the two sides agreed to extend the Joint Plan of Action by November 24, they added.

On Saturday, an Iranian deputy foreign minister voiced satisfaction in the progressive trend of the nuclear talks between Iran and the six major world powers, and described the one-on-one talks with the Sextet members as a productive plan to narrow down differences before the scheduled high-level meeting in September.

 “Iran will definitely hold bilateral talks with the Group 5+1 ahead of the scheduled (high-level) meeting between Zarif and (EU Foreign Policy Chief) Catherine Ashton on the sidelines of the (annual gathering of the) UN General Assembly,” Deputy Foreign Minister for European and Americas' Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi said on Saturday.

 “The exact timetable and venue of the meetings have not been determined yet,” he added. (FNA)