5+1 yielded to Iranian nation’s will: IRGC official

TEHRAN, April 17(MNA) – The deputy commander of the Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) said on Monday that the six major powers were compelled to recognize Iran’s right to nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes in the Istanbul talks as a result of the Iranian nation’s will and resistance. Tehran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China – plus Germany) held a new round of talks in Istanbul on Saturday. The talks were described as being “constructive” and “useful” by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who led negotiations for the six powers. Brigadier General Hossein Salami said, “All world powers came together to prevent Iran from accessing nuclear technology, but the nation’s will and resistance… forced the enemies to give in and the ill-wishers to bow to Iranian nation’s (demands).” He also said that the West was forced to accept the reality that the Islamic Republic is not in pursuit of nuclear weapons, an acknowledgement which constitutes another achievement for the Iranian nation. Elsewhere in his remarks, the deputy IRGC commander said that the enemies have hatched plots to undermine the security of the country. But the IRGC is currently fully prepared to deal with any cause of insecurity in the country, he added.