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Iran wants clarification on P5+1 talks

24 October 2010 02:51 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. An Iranian official has renewed Tehran’s call for a clear response from the West regarding the direction and purpose of any future nuclear talks with the P5+1, APA reports quoting Press TV.

"A clear, straightforward response by [EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine] Ashton to the questions that would clarify the framework of negotiations is a prerequisite for talks," deputy head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Abolfazl Zohrehvand, told Fars news agency on Saturday.

The Iranian official said that Ashton had set a date and time for negotiations while leaving Iran’s questions unanswered.

Zohrehvand said that the other side should initially clarify whether the aim of talks is cooperation or confrontation with Iran.

The negotiating group should also provide assurance about their commitment to logic in talks, which would prevent them from using the language of "threats and pressure," he said.

Zohrehvand also called on the members of the group to clarify their viewpoint on Israel’s alleged nuclear weapons.

He said Iran is still awaiting Ashton’s response to the three issues raised by head of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, and went further to criticize the EU official for showing no reaction to a letter by Jalili regarding the matter.

Talks between Iran and the P5+1 have been stalled since October 1, 2009, when the two sides met in Geneva.

In a letter to Ashton dated July 6, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Jalili said that while Iran is still ready to resume talks with the group of six world powers, a number of conditions would first have to be met.

Jalili said that the direction of the talks should become clear and all parties should prove their commitment to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty’s pillars of global disarmament, non-proliferation and the right to peaceful nuclear technology.

The country’s top nuclear negotiator also called for clarification on the ambiguous nuclear program of Israel -- widely believed to be the Middle East’s sole possessor of nuclear weapons.

Without addressing the issues raised by Iran, Ashton recently sent a letter to Jalili, putting forward a proposal for a new round of talks with the P5+1 in or near Vienna from November 15 to 17.