Russia optimistic about Iran nuclear talks

TEHRAN,Feb.17(MNA) – Russia’s deputy foreign minister is hopeful negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over Tehran’s nuclear program in Almaty, Kazakhstan, on February 26 will produce concrete results. “We are approaching the moment when we will have to make different decisions,” Sergei Ryabkov told Interfax on Friday, RT reported. “In any case, we would like the participants of the Almaty talks to share this understanding concerning the specifics of the moment.” The Russian diplomat said that Russia has forwarded a plan that forms the core of the P5+1 group’s position in that it envisions “gradual and mutual measures” to resolve the Iranian standoff. At the same time, Ryabkov noted that the Iranians “proposed their own ideas” during past negotiations. The deputy foreign minister emphasized that “real talks” will begin only when both sides explain why the measures proposed is “correct”. At that point, members of the P5+1 and Iran can attempt to “build upon what we have in common.” Asked whether the international negotiators will continue to make demands on Tehran regarding its nuclear research, Ryabkov responded that “we cannot put up for review the requirements set by resolutions of the UN Security Council and the IAEA Board of Governors.” The approach the P5+1 group will present in Almaty should be more appealing to Iran than the previous one, the diplomat added. Russia’s deputy foreign minister, while assuring that the upcoming talks will not be “a repeat of the previous round,” the risk of repeating the developments of the last round is “really high.” Ryabkov said the breakdown in the talks is due to a “political factor that will not influence the atmosphere in the best way.” The six major powers have demanded that Iran halt 20 percent enrichment of uranium, shut down the Fordo uranium enrichment facility, and ship all of its stocks of 20 percent enriched uranium out of the country. Iran’s main demand is that its right to uranium enrichment, as enumerated in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, be recognized.