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Asefi optimistic about future nuclear talks with Europe

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, June 14, IRNA
Iran-Asefi-Nuclear
Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid-Reza Asefi here Wednesday expressed optimism future talks with Europe on the nuclear issue would bear fruit in a reasonable way.

Asefi made the remarks while speaking to reporters on the sidelines of an open session of Majlis on Wednesday.

"We are hopeful with regard to future negotiations if carried out logically. We should wait for these talks to be logical," he said.

Asked when Iran would give its decision on Europe's proposed package of incentives to Iran, he said the results will be announced as soon as pertinent officials have fully studied it.

"Currently, I will give no details on the package," he added.

Early this month European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana visited Iran to hand over a package of incentives to Tehran to convince it to give up its uranium enrichment activities and resume talks to settle the dispute over its nuclear program.

Although no details of the incentives have been disclosed, it is believed to be a set of security, trade and other economic guarantees for Iran.

The spokesman further said that no deadline has been set for Iran to give its decision on this latest offer of Europe.

Responding to a question on remarks made recently by International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) chief Mohamed ElBaradei that certain questions have still to be answered by Iran, Asefi said that the tenor of ElBaradei's report nonetheless indicates that Iran had sufficiently cooperated with the IAEA.

"The report clearly states that nuclear activities conducted in Isfahan and Natanz had been under the agency's surveillance." Asefi also pointed out that Article 18 of ElBaradei's report expressly states that the IAEA had not uncovered evidence showing any diversion in Iran's nuclear activities from their stated purpose.

He reiterated Iran's readiness to hold talks. "If there are remaining questions, we are ready to negotiate on them." ElBaradei's report, the spokesman said, further pointed to the fact that the enriched uranium found in one of Iran's nuclear facilities came from a foreign source.

Pointing to the Non-Aligned Movement's (NAM) statement issued in support of the country's nuclear program at the end of its foreign ministers' meeting in Malaysia earlier this month, NAM member states in the governing board in their session today will issue a similar statement which will once again affirm Iran's right to pursue nuclear energy for peaceful purposes.

"Today, most countries of the international community support Iran," Asefi said.

The NAM stand in favor of Iran shows that "the US cannot create a consensus against Iran's nuclear program. Rather, a consensus has been reached against the US' stance on Iran," he added.

"The protest of the NAM representative at the IAEA to a letter sent to them by the US ambassador to the IAEA shows a consensus has been reached against Washington."
Meanwhile, Asefi said Iran has adopted several measures to support the interests of Iranian nationals outside the country, adding these measures would be continued.

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