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Rowhani complains about slow pace of talks with Europeans

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, March 5, IRNA -- The nuclear talks with the Europeans are 
going ahead slowly contrary to Iran`s expectations, said the senior 
nuclear official Hassan Rowhani on Saturday. 
"The suspension (of uranium enrichment) will continue as long 
as the talks go ahead. Continuation of suspension is subject to 
the continuation of the talks," said Rowhani who is the secretary 
of Iran`s Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) at the end 
of a conference on `nuclear energy and sustainable development.` 
The inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) 
inspected the site of Parchin but they have not announced their 
report yet," he said at a press conference in response to a question 
raised by a reporter after the conference. 
A reporter asked about the request by the UN nuclear agency to 
inspect Parchin for a second time and Rowhani said "Parchin is a 
military region and in our talks with the agency we have asked them 
to give us their justifiable reason for inspecting the region for a 
second time." 
"The visit to London was not cancelled but it was postponed to 
another date," he answered a question why his visit to London 
had been cancelled. 
About the possible visit of the three European foreign ministers 
(from France, Germany and Britain) to Tehran, he said that there is no
program on the table now. 
"Until today, the Americans have not requested to be present in 
the nuclear talks between Iran and Europe," he said on the possible 
presence of the US in Iran-Europe nuclear talks and direct talks 
between Iran and America. 
"We have not thought about holding direct talks with the US 
because the US stance towards Iran`s nuclear case has been unwise 
and hostile." 
He referred to the fact that Iran-Europe talks have been based on 
the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), saying "The Americans first have 
to accept the base of the talks, then clarify their stances and 
respect the international regulations." 
A reporter asked Rowhani if his candidacy for the upcoming 
presidential election was dependent on his success in the nuclear 
talks and he said that there is no relationship between the talks and 
his candidacy and that these are two separate issues. 
He did not rule out his possible candidacy for the presidential 
election which is to be held in mid June. 
Regarding the contradictory statements made by British officials 
about Iran`s nuclear case, he stressed "It is premature to judge it. 
We have not received any sign that London is to abandon the nuclear 
talks." 
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