‘Recognition of nuclear rights is Iran’s red line in talks with 5+1 group’

TEHRAN,Feb.23(MNA) – Iran has said that the recognition of the country’s right to uranium enrichment is Tehran’s “red line” in the upcoming talks with the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany), which will be held in Kazakhstan. Iranian Ambassador to the UN Mohammad Khazaei made the remarks during an address to more than 200 international diplomats and academics at the Asia Society in New York on Friday. “The essence of our discussion is that Iran’s right to enriching uranium under the terms of the (nuclear) Non-Proliferation Treaty should be recognized. The Iranian delegation will (only) make a decision and hold discussions on the level of enrichment,” he added. Iran will not attend talks accompanied with pressure Commenting on the U.S. policy on talks with Iran, Khazaei said, “The double-standard policy consisting of pressure and diplomacy, which the United States claims are complementary… is actually based on increasing the pressure.” Ambassador Khazaei quoted Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei’s recent statements on talks with the U.S., in which he said, “The Iranian people are advocates of logic, and if they see logical remarks and actions from the other side, they will respond appropriately.” Khazaei added, “(But) we denounce talks accompanied with pressure. We are advocates of logic and dialogue.” “Diplomacy and pressure are irreconcilable, and adopting such a policy is fruitless. The U.S. is erroneously assuming that through increasing the pressure, it can get a result.” “I, representing the Islamic Republic of Iran, announce that Iran is not opposed to talks in principle. Iranians are a civilized nation and always have been in favor of talks and against wars,” Khazaei said. “The bone of contention between Tehran and Washington is not Iran’s nuclear program, but a reciprocal lack of confidence that has overshadowed the relationship over the past three decades,” he added. Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and thus has the right to enrich uranium to produce fuel. And the International Atomic Energy Agency has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.