Iran says dialogue will act as catalyst for cooperation with 5+1

TEHRAN, Feb. 14 (MNA) – Iran believes dialogue will act as a catalyst for cooperation between Tehran and the 5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany), a top Iranian security official said. Saeed Jalili, Iran’s Supreme National Security Council secretary, made the remarks in a meeting with China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Tehran on Monday. Jalili also said cooperation is the only way through which talks can be fruitful. The remarks by Jalili came as Iran and the 5+1 group are expected to resume talks after a long hiatus. Iran and the 5+1 group held their last meeting in Istanbul in late January 2011. However, no date was set for the next round of negotiations. China has reiterated that dialogue is the only viable solution to end the nuclear dispute between Iran and the West. According to Reuters, Ma said the purpose of his two-day visit to Tehran, which began on Sunday, was to "candidly discuss" Iran’s nuclear issue with Jalili’s deputy Ali Baqeri. "China is willing to ... push forward the early resumption of six-nation talks with Iran, and encourage Iran to strengthen cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure the Iran nuclear issue moves forward on the proper course of dialogue," Ma said in a statement on the ministry's website (www.mfa.gov.cn). Both Iran and the 5+1 group, which is represented by EU foreign policy chief Catherin Ashton, has expressed willingness to restart talks and Turkey has announced its willingness to host the talks.