FM Spokesman: Policy Of Pressuring Iran Not To Be Effective

Tehran, May 14, IRNA – Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi said policy of pressuring Iran will never be effective in any way. Talking to reporters in his weekly press briefing on Tuesday, he referred to bilateral talks between Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili and the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and hoped her response would be constructive. Asked to comment on the next round of Iran-EU talks on Iranˈs peaceful nuclear program to be held in Istanbul tomorrow, he noted that Tehran’s proposals put forward during the second meeting in Almaty were very constructive and balanced. He said Iran expects a positive and favorable reaction from the other party. Araqchi, who is a member of Iran’s negotiating team, further pointed to two rounds of transparent, qualitative and accurate talk with the 5+1 in Kazakhstan and said the sextet’s proposals in Almaty-1 were welcomed because contrary to the past they contained no items negating Iranian nation’s rights. He said Iran believed any progress in nuclear talks and settlement of the issue is in need of taking balanced, synchronized and complementary steps. Turning to the last night remarks of the British Prime Minister David Cameron and the US President Barack Obama who urged further pressures on Iran, the spokesman said such remarks are disappointing since they reflect lack of realistic approach and sound reasoning on the part of those exerting pressures. Stressing that pressure has never been an effective tool, he underlined that targeted talks inspired by goodwill is the only solution./end