West used US elections as pretext to stall Iran talks: Soltanieh
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Berlin, Jan 22, IRNA -- The West used the US presidential elections as a ''pretext'' to stall the P5 plus 1 talks with Tehran, Iran's Ambassdor to the International Átomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-Asghar Soltanieh said here Monday evening.
Speaking at a round-table discussion on the Iranian nuclear issue in Berlin, Soltanieh
made clear the 6-month delay in the nuclear negotiations was simply ''not acceptable.''
Opportunities have been lost as a result of this delay, he reiterated.
The Iranian diplomat urged the West to return to the negotiation table, saying his country was ''ready for a face-saving solution'' based on mutual respect.
Soltanieh called also on the West to ''carefully study the Iranian culture'' when dealing with Iranian nuclear case.
Iran's top diplomat at the UN nuclear watchdog voiced hope that 2013 could open up a ''new chapter'' in the talks between Iran and the six western powers.
'My country is ready to conduct negotiations with the P5 plus 1 based on ''mutual respect, without preconditions and on equal footing,'' Soltanieh said.
He stressed the West had to cope with the ''reality'' of Iran's nuclear program and see how to find a solution about it.
Soltanieh reaffirmed Iran's right to enrich uranium and its commitment to cooperate fully with the IAEA.
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Islamic Republic News Agency/IRNA NewsCode: 80510697
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