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Kharrazi says Iran has legitimate right to start UCF activities

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, May 9, IRNA
Iran-Nuclear
Foreign Minister Kamal Kharrazi said here Monday that Iran has a legitimate right to start activities at the Isfahan Uranium Conversion Facility (UCF).

Meeting Japanese Advisor to Prime Minister Yoriko Kavagouchi, Kharrazi referred to talks between Iran and European Union trio of France, Britain and Germany and said that the goal was to continue negotiations based on mutual confidence building and respect of legitimate right of Iran.

"The Iranian people expectations regarding the peaceful nuclear program are both important and rational."
Iranians are following with great sensitivity all the details of the negotiations and expect the Iranian officials to carry out their legitimate aspirations pertaining to scientific and nuclear technology and for the EU to implement its commitment within the framework of the Paris agreement.

In this regard, Tehran, parallel to its talks with the EU, is also working to delineate the draft of Additional Protocol to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).

Elsewhere in his remarks, he added that Iran and Japan are determined to take serious steps to bolster their political and economic relations.

Kharrazi pointed to the shared goals in Afghanistan saying that with closer consultations Tehran and Tokyo can embark on various investment and trade joint projects.

Kavagouchi said that Iran is an important player in the regional developments adding that the two nations have growing relations in all areas.

He said that Iran and EU have had important discussions and expressed hope that they will reach a satisfactory outcome in their nuclear talks.

Iran said Thursday it was close to a final solution to conclude the case with Europe over its nuclear energy programs, stressing, however, that external factors are delaying the issue to be terminated.

Sirous Nasseri, the head of Iran's nuclear negotiating team with the EU troika told a news conference that the fact that the negotiations have become prolonged is because of external factors which cannot be controlled.

"Even though the final solution is close to us, it is not clear whether it will be available to Iran and the EU trio six months later," he said.

Nasseri said Iran and the EU-3 have been able to set the stage for a long-term compromise over Iran's nuclear energy plans, stressing that this was a primary objective of the Paris deal.

He added that the EU side has repeatedly told the Iranian delegation that they are waiting for the results of Iran's upcoming presidential polls. This, he stressed, has no justification for us.

"We have clearly and resolutely told them that the issue of Iran's nuclear energy program is not something which will concern only the current or the next administration [in the country] and will rather concern all the Iranian nation and the future generations," Nasseri said.

The Iranian negotiator said the Europeans are currently acting as a barrier that prevents a serious tension between Iran and the US over the nuclear energy activities of the Islamic Republic, and that they try to clam the situation so that they can arrive at an acceptable compromise with Iran over the issue.

Nasseri said the Americans want to take up a bullying approach toward Iran over its nuclear energy plans, stressing that the US and Europe seem to be arriving at a solution which would be acceptable to Iran, as well.

"Our people have always wanted two things from us. First, they do not want Iran to withdraw from its positions in the talks because they consider the issue as important, and second, they want the talks to proceed on a peaceful procedure," he said.

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::IRNA No.082 09/05/2005 23:10 --End