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Mohsen Rezaee
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Iran: Nuclear talks should take place in 'Iran-friendly' state

Islamic Republic official Mohsen Rezaee calls to hold nuclear negotiations with Western powers not in Turkey but in 'friendlier' Arab country

The next round of nuclear talks between Iran and the West is set to take place in Istanbul in two weeks, but some suggest the negotiations should take place in an "Iranian-friendly" country.

 

Iran's Secretary of the Expediency Discernment Council Mohsen Rezaee suggested Monday that the next round of nuclear talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) should be held in Arab capitals such as Baghdad, Beirut or Damascus instead of Istanbul.

 

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According to Rezaee, the need for a change of location came in the wake of Turkey's alleged "failure to fulfill relevant commitments."

 

Rezaee said Tehran should take some additional time before deciding on a location for the next nuclear negotiations. "We must not give misleading signals to the Western powers. Iran should further discuss the future location of the talks, so other countries do not assume Istanbul is our only option," he said.

 

He severely opposed the international sanctions imposed on Tehran, and further called for reinforcing internal resistance.

 

"Western officials are aware that Iranian leaders are against war, but they should know that Iran will not succumb to any international pressure. Negotiation is the only option," he said.

 

Meanwhile, the US and the EU continue to bolster sanctions against the Islamic Republic, and demand from Tehran to engage in negotiations without preconditions. 

 

US State Secretary Hillary Clinton who took part in a Friends of Syria conference in Turkey, told Iranian reporters in Istanbul on Sunday that Tehran could demonstrate that its nuclear program has no military purpose by ending the production of 20% enriched uranium and opening up its facilities to constant inspections.

 

Regarding the upcoming talks set to take place in Turkey, she said: "This has to be a very serious action-oriented negotiation, where both sides are highly engaged on a sustainable basis to reach a decision that can be translated into policy that is verified as soon as possible." 

 

 

 

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פרסום ראשון: 04.03.12, 00:13
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