Iran will not relinquish one iota of its nuclear rights: Iranian security official

TEHRAN, May 19 (MNA) - The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that the country will not back down an inch in the face of Western pressure to relinquish its rights to advance its peaceful nuclear program. SNSC Secretary Saeed Jalili made the remarks during a speech at a conference on “resistance economy”, which was held in Tehran on Thursday. “The resistance of our nation has helped us effectively defend the rights of the Iranian people in the talks. In addition, the people are standing firm on their rights and will not relinquish an iota of them,” said Jalili, who is Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator. Tehran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) held a new round of talks in Istanbul on April 14, breaking a 15-month hiatus in talks, and agreed to meet again in Baghdad on May 23. Jalili added, “After the Istanbul talks, we heard some (negative) comments from the Westerners. I warn them to be careful when making comments so that they will not make miscalculations.” He also said, “Some are saying that the time for negotiations is running out. However, I tell them, ‘What is running out is the policy of exerting pressure.’” Commenting on the sanctions imposed on Iran over the allegation that it is seeking to produce nuclear weapons, the Iranian official stated, “Those who assume that they can exert pressure on the people or hinder Iran’s progress through sanctions must be aware that they are playing on our field.” Following the path of pressure will only make the Iranian nation more resistant and united, he added. Commenting on the talks between Iran and world powers in Geneva in 2009, in which the issue of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel had been discussed, Jalili said, “We told them (at the time), ‘If you are willing, we are ready to buy the fuel… otherwise, we will produce it ourselves.’” “However, I have never forgotten the smiles of certain people who had participated in the talks,” suggesting that Iran cannot produce the fuel, he added. If Iran had been provided with 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel, it could not have succeeded in producing the fuel itself, he noted.