Brussels, 08/05/2012 (Agence Europe) - High-ranking Iranian politician Mohsen Rezai said on Tuesday 8 May that he was “hopeful of the outcome of the talks” with the major powers (France, Germany, United Kingdom and China, Russia, United states) on the Iranian nuclear programme which are due to take place in Baghdad (Iraq) on 23 May. Rezai feels, however, that “there is a long way to go to resolve the Iranian nuclear crisis”. Iranian news agency Mehr quoted Rezai as saying one of the priorities is to instil a sense of mutual confidence between Iran and the 3+3. He said there is a long way to go before international sanctions against Iran are lifted.
Ramin Mehmanparast, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said once more that Iran would not give up its right to nuclear power. “We must await the Baghdad meeting to learn the position of the 3+3 … but it is clear that we will not give up our right to command nuclear science for peaceful purposes”, he said.
Discussions resumed between the 3+3 and Iran in Istanbul on 14 April, after a gap of 15 months. The meeting later this month in Baghdad will be their second. (CG/transl.rt)