TEHRAN – The attitude that world powers adopted at the latest round of talks with Iran over Tehran’s nuclear program made the proposals offered to the Islamic Republic worth mulling over, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Tuesday.
The attitude that the six major powers adopted was more logical than in the past, Ramin Mehmanparast said at his regular press briefing in reference to the talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on February 26 and 27, during which the two sides agreed to meet again in the same city for further negotiations on April 5 and 6.
In Almaty, the major powers dropped their demand that Iran shut down its underground uranium-enrichment plant at Fordo, and insisted instead that Iran suspend enrichment work there and agree to unspecified conditions that would make it hard to quickly resume production. They also said that Iran could continue to produce and keep a small amount of uranium enriched to 20 percent for use in a research reactor that produces medical isotopes, according to the New York Times.
If Tehran agreed to these steps, the major powers said they would suspend some sanctions against Iran, including trade in gold and petrochemicals, and would not impose new sanctions through the United Nations Security Council and the European Union. The main oil and financial sanctions would not be loosened.
Mehmanparast said, “The proposals were put forward in response to the comprehensive proposals that our country had made at the previous meeting (in Moscow in June 2012). However, our proposals were only partly responded to in Almaty.”
“Other measures may be necessary to reach a final agreement that would be discussed during further negotiations, but the attitude of the 5+1 countries created an atmosphere that made the proposals seem worth mulling over,” he added.
Mehmanparast also said, “If the logical attitude continues and the 5+1 proposals are in line with our country’s view, the outlook for the negotiations is bright and can lead to a final agreement.”
If such an atmosphere continues to prevail, it can be expected that the sanctions imposed on the country would be gradually lifted, he added.
Iran will address IAEA’s concerns if its nuclear rights are recognized
Mehmanparast also replied to a question about the fact that International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Yukiya Amano on Monday reiterated the UN nuclear agency’s call for access to the Parchin military site, located southeast of Tehran, where the IAEA claims nuclear-related activities may have been carried out.
Iran has made it clear that access to the conventional military site would not be possible before an agreement is reached on the structured approach document.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that Iran was ready to address the IAEA’s concerns based on an agreement in which Iran’s nuclear rights are recognized.
He also said that the negotiations between Iran and the UN nuclear watchdog had been positive so far.
Zionists are worried about recognition of Iran’s nuclear rights
On the fact that a group of bipartisan senators are promoting legislation promising Israel U.S. support if the former chooses to attack Iran on its own, Mehmanparast said, “The Zionists are worried about our country’s achievement of its rights and are afraid that the claim against our country would be removed after a final agreement is reached.
“If the United States is determined and serious to make changes (in its foreign policy), it should oppose these measures. We observe the United States’ actions in practice.”
source
tehran times newspaper
