G5+1 In No Position To Judge Iran’s Nuclear Activities: Salehi

Tehran, Feb 6, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said here on Sunday that the 5+1 Group (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) is in no authority to judge Iran’s nuclear activities. Salehi made the remarks among the reporters at the end of a cabinet meeting late Sunday in Tehran. Salehi pointed out that the recent visit of the inspectors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to Tehran has nothing to do with the 5+1 Group. Salehi noted that the IAEA inspectors will visit the country again in three weeks time, adding that their first trip was the initial step in overcoming differences between Iran and IAEA and boosting their commonalities . He expressed hope that the visit of the IAEA inspectors is merely a legal and technical one and hence the issues should be closely followed up and pursued. “The two sides will continue their negotiations for achieving consensus and a common understanding,” Salehi added. Iran has relayed its viewpoints to the IAEA delegation and they will take the next steps in their upcoming visit to Tehran, Salehi added. Asked about the venue and time of next meeting between Iran's nuclear negotiators and 5+1 Group, Salehi responded that the Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili will inform the European Union’s Foreign Policy Chief, Katherine Ashton, about the date and place of such talks./end