Certain world powers seeking to impede Iran-5+1 talks:Iranian Majlis speaker

TEHRAN,Dec.18(MNA) - Iranian Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani said that certain world powers are making efforts to create stumbling blocks in the way of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group and prevent the negotiations from bearing fruit. Larijani made the remarks during a meeting with Bai Lichen, the vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, in Tehran on Sunday. Iran has been holding talks with the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over its nuclear program. Bai emphasized Iran’s right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and stated, “The independent policies adopted by Iran after the victory of the Islamic Revolution have been the cause of pressure and sanctions against Iran by the West.” Iran has been under various sanctions mostly imposed by the United States since the victory of the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Washington and the European Union have declared that the sanctions are aimed at forcing Iran to abandon its nuclear energy program, which they claim includes a military aspect. Iran has strongly rejected the allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The Iranian Majlis speaker described economic and political ties between Iran and China as strong and developing and emphasized that the two countries are determined to expand cooperation in all areas. “The continuation of close consultation between the two countries about major regional and international issues can help promote peace and security in the region,” Larijani noted. Bai hailed Iran’s rich history and culture and called the Islamic Republic an important and influential country in the Middle East region, adding, “Iran and China should have close cooperation and consultation on main regional and international issues.”