Iran Will Positively Respond To West If Realistic Atmosphere Exists : Official

Tehran, May 16, IRNA – Deputy foreign minister for Arab and African affairs said Iran will respond to the West in a positive manner if the western states continue talks in a realistic atmosphere. Hossein Amir Abdollahian made the remark in a meeting with South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane. The FM official called on world countries to recognize the legitimate right of the Iranian nation to pursue peaceful nuclear technology. Abdollahian hoped that the upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and the sextet in Baghdad will be a step forward, urging the West to continue negotiation in a realistic atmosphere. Iran and the G5+1- the US, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany- are to start second round of nuclear talks at the end of May. The first round of negotiations was held in Istanbul, Turkey, in mid-April. Abdollahian submitted a message from Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad to his South African counterpart inviting him to take part in the 16th summit meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member countries to be held in Tehran late summer. On bilateral relations, the Iranian diplomat said there is no restriction for expansion of all-out ties between the two countries. Ms Nkoana-Mashabane, for her part, said her country as an influential member of the NAM will certainly attend the Tehran meeting. She also stressed the Islamic Republic of Iran's right to pursue peaceful nuclear technology./end