Iran asks 5+1 to offer credible proposals in new round of talks

TEHRAN,Feb.24(MNA) – Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator has urged the West to enter the new round of nuclear talks due on Tuesday in Kazakhstan with a “new approach” and “credible proposals”. “We hope they avoid making their previous mistakes and take a path to gain our nation’s trust,” Saeed Jalili told an annual conference of nuclear industry directors on Saturday. On the talks with the major powers (China, France, the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom and Germany) in Kazakhstan, he said, “Iran is working under the Safeguard Agreement in connection with the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is insistent to enjoy all its rights.” “Our people do not accept more obligations and fewer rights,” he added. The six major powers want Iran to halt 20 percent enrichment and shut the Fordo underground plant where this takes place. Iran wants them to recognize its right to refine uranium for peaceful purposes and to ease economic sanctions against the country. “The Westerners had openly stated that they intended to implement crippling pressures on Iran to compel the country to abandon its rights.” Jalili said. “Their officials admit that there is no pressure left, which is not being exerted, but the Iranian nation has responded to them by the Bahman 22 demo [the Feb. 10 rallies commemorating the anniversary of the victory of the Islamic Revolution], and we hope they have learnt a lesson.” Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and thus has the right to enrich uranium to produce fuel. And the International Atomic Energy Agency has conducted numerous inspections of Iran's nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that Iran’s civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.