‘Efforts to undermine Baghdad talks will not compel Iran to make concessions’

TEHRAN, May7(MNA) -- The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman said that certain world powers are seeking to sour the atmosphere for the next round of talks in Baghdad, but the Islamic Republic will not allow its rights to be disregarded. Ramin Mehmanparast made the remarks on Sunday in reply to a question about the fact that European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the six major powers in nuclear negotiations with Tehran, reportedly plans to visit Israel on May 9 and that U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton started a three-day visit to India on May 6. Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) held a new round of talks on the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program in Istanbul on April 14, breaking a 15-month hiatus in talks, and agreed to meet again in Baghdad on May 23. According to the Israeli daily Haaretz, Ashton plans to discuss Iran’s nuclear program with Israeli officials. An unidentified U.S. official, who is accompanying Clinton, told reporters on Sunday that the United States will seek assurances that India will reduce its purchases of oil from Iran during Clinton’s visit, Reuters reported. Mehmanparast said that Western officials’ “trips to and consultations with their allies ahead of the Baghdad talks are meant to alter the atmosphere of the negotiations and to obtain a number of concessions, but they should be aware that we will not allow the rights of the great Iranian nation to be trampled upon.” He added, “Such negotiations are also psychological and media warfare meant to create organized pressure (on Iran) before the beginning of the Baghdad talks. “Such issues will have no effect on the will and demand of the Iranian nation and their representatives in the negotiations. “However, it falls within their ambit to hold consultations with each other, but what is of concern for us is that the problems of today’s world can be resolved through cooperation and consultation among all countries. “Respect for the people’s rights should be a fundamental principle, and the elimination of injustice can help defuse tensions. “The Islamic Republic of Iran, for its part, has announced its determination to help establish a just system in today’s world, and we will definitely make efforts to this end. “Now, the entire world is aware that the Islamic Republic of Iran is an influential power on the regional and international stages and has many things to say.” Mehmanparast also said, “At this juncture, various issues concerning Iran are being discussed, including its negotiations with the 5+1, regional developments, and the Islamic Awakening. And these issues can greatly affect the future of the Middle East region. “And the role and influence that the Islamic Republic of Iran has among nations has caused many political moves in various countries.”