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Nuclear talks can build trust for both sides - Rafsanjani

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Tehran, Feb 8, IRNA
Rafsanjani-Nuclear-Trust
Head of IRI Expediency Council said here Wednesday that negotiation is the only solution for significant regional and international problems, able to build trust for both sides.

Speaking with visiting Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee, Hojjatoleslam Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani added, "dictating the suspension precondition for resuming nuclear talks with Iran was the European countries' mistake, made under the the pressure of certain powers."

He added, "Iran, with the same amount of courage it announced it is not aiming at taking military advantage of nuclear power, is ready to defend its national right to take peaceful advantage of the nuclear energy quite resolutely."

Referring to the long record of Iran's cooperation with India, particularly in the first decade after the victory of the Islamic Revolution, he said, "We are glad to witness the improvement in affairs related to India on a daily basis."

Rafsanjani expressed delight over the solution of the India-Pakistan crisis, saying, "That process would definitely be accelerated once the executive phases of the natural gas Peace Pipeline from Iran, through Pakistan, to India would begin." The Indian Foreign Minister, too, during the meeting stressed that the entire world nations are entitled to take advantage of the nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, adding, "Disturbing Middle East security would not serve any side's interests."

Mukherjee considered the two great civilizations of Iran and India as the best ground for the growth of political, economic, cultural, and trade ties between the two nations.

He added, "Energy and its products comprise the most important part of the two countries' cooperation, and due to India's growing demand for energy we ask for broader cooperation with Iran in that field."

The Indian FM stressed, "India is planning for a 25 year cooperation with Iran regarding provision of energy."

He said, "Iran, Pakistan and India must rapidly finalize the Peace Pipeline and I assure you that New Delhi is quite determined in that respect," assuring, "We believe our bilateral cooperation is needless of any third country's interference."

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