Iranian Diplomat Says Geneva Nuclear Talks Test for West’s Sincerity


Iranian Diplomat Says Geneva Nuclear Talks Test for West’s Sincerity

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran’s nuclear talks with the six world powers in Geneva provided an opportunity to test the West’s honesty, Iran’s Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Gholam Hossein Dehqani said.

The Islamic Republic of Iran entered this round of Geneva negotiations in good faith and expected the same attitude from the other side, Dehqani said in an address to the session of the UN First Committee on Disarmament and International Security on Wednesday.

Iran’s main objective in the talks is pursuing serious, time-bound, and fruitful talks to address the concerns of the other parties, he said.

He emphasized that in return the others side, too, is expected to recognize the Islamic Republic of Iran’s right to peaceful use of nuclear energy, including having a national nuclear fuel cycle, and lift all the unilateral and international sanctions imposed on the country.

Earlier this month, the United Nations Disarmament and International Security Committee (UDISC) unanimously appointed Iran as its new rapporteur for a year.

The committee is better known at the UN as the First Committee, and is the General Assembly’s prime workshop for drafting resolutions and initiatives dealing with global security, especially efforts to regulate and reduce armaments.

Separately, the Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister, who was delegated by his boss to lead his country's team of negotiators, Abbas Araqchi, said in Geneva that any nuclear agreement needs to be bolstered by guarantees from both sides.

“This is a two-way path and any guarantee is bilateral,” Araqchi told Tasnim News Agency, when asked if the West would remain committed to its agreements with Iran.

Speaking to reporters after conclusion of the two-day nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in the Swiss city of Geneva on Wednesday, Araqchi had also stated on Wednesday night that “despite difference” the two sides “are moving in right direction to remove differences”.

He further noted that the western parties were serious in their talks with Iran in Geneva.

Earlier, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a press conference in Geneva that the Islamic Republic was “optimistic” that it could reach a common goal with the other side.

“The negotiations show both sides are serious and want to create common ground,” said Zarif who stressed the need for political will to address the existing problems and to “move ahead.”

The Iranian minister once again reiterated the purely civilian nature of his country's nuclear program, but said Tehran is ready to address any reasonable concern over its program in good faith.

Araqchi had earlier said snap visits to Iranian nuclear sites, which are part of the Additional Protocol, as well as lowering uranium enrichment levels were part of the last step of Iran's package of proposals presented to the other side on Tuesday.

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