Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)

German FM terms resumption of Iran talks 'positive'

IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency

Berlin, Dec 6, IRNA -- German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle welcomed the resumption of talks between Iran and the so-called '5 plus 1' group (US, Russia, China, France, Britain and Germany), labeling it a 'positive step.'

Westerwelle reiterated in a press statement on Sunday 'Iran's right for the civilian use of atomic energy' ahead of Monday's meeting in Geneva between Iran and the five UN veto powers plus Germany, the first in more than a year.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili is to hold talks in Geneva with European Union foreign policy supremo Catherine Ashton who is negotiating on behalf of the '5 plus 1' group.

Jalili who is also Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, has made clear Iran's nuclear rights were 'non-negotiable.'

He urged the West to reverse its wrong policies and double-standards on Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

While the western powers want the talks to zoom on the nuclear program, Tehran insists its program is non-negotiable and says the talks should focus on regional peace and disarmament issues, specifically the secret nuclear weapons program of the Zionist regime.

OT**1424
Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 30109806