Balanced attitude by West can help sustain positive atmosphere: Iran

TEHRAN, May 16 (MNA) -- Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Arab and African Affairs Hossein Amir-Abdollahian said that a balanced attitude by the West toward Iran’s nuclear rights can help sustain the positive atmosphere that prevailed at the Istanbul talks for the upcoming talks in Baghdad. Amir-Abdollahian, who is currently on a two-nation tour of Africa, made the remarks during a meeting with South African Deputy Foreign Minister Ebrahim Ismail Ebrahim in Pretoria on Monday. Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) held a new round of talks on Tehran’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. Commenting on the latest developments in the region and the world, Amir-Abdollahian pointed to Tehran’s approach toward the Western policy of imposing pressure on the Islamic Republic and emphasized Iran’s right to develop and acquire nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes. He also discussed other issues, including the efforts to cement Iran-South Africa ties in all spheres and to organize joint economic committee meetings. In the meeting, Ebrahim called for the consolidation of relations between the two countries and praised Iran’s foreign policy. He also described the negotiations held by members of Iran-South Africa political committees as useful and constructive. During his trip, Amir-Abdollahian was tasked with presenting Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s letters to the South African and Namibian presidents, who have been invited to participate in the upcoming Non-Aligned Movement summit, which will be held in Tehran in late August. On Tuesday, Amir-Abdollahian left Pretoria and travelled to the Namibian capital Windhoek.