Gap between Iran and 5+1 can be closed:Iran’s UN envoy

TEHRAN,July 14(MNA) - The Iranian ambassador to the United Nations said that it is possible to close the gap between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over the country’s nuclear program. It should be “possible to close the gap” to reach a compromise, Ambassador Mohammad Khazaee stated during an interview with Al-Monitor in New York on July 10. However, the proposal put forward by the six major powers is tentative and vague and they have offered no firm commitments in return for demands that Iran curb its nuclear program, the Iranian ambassador said. “There is no promise in the proposal: There is ‘consideration, thinking, trying,’” Khazaee stated. For instance, the 5+1 group’s proposal would require Iran to stop 20 percent enrichment, which Iran says it undertakes to fuel a reactor which produces isotopes to treat Iranian cancer patients, but on whether the international offer would then supply fuel for the Tehran research reactor, “they said they will try to consider it,” he added. The proposal laid out a three-step process, Khazaee said, noting that as a first step, Iran is being asked to stop its 20 percent enrichment, ship out its stockpile of 20 percent uranium, and close the Fordo enrichment facility. “Step two was capping enrichment at five percent as well as (ending production of) the heavy water in Arak, in exchange for ‘thinking, finding a way’ for removal of unilateral sanctions,” the Iranian envoy stated. The third step “is that Iran should implement fully the Security Council resolutions,” he said. “Then they will ‘consider’ remov(ing) the (UN) sanctions.” According to Al-Monitor, another element in the package of proposal involves spare parts for Iran’s civilian airlines, and the proposal says that the 5+1 group “is prepared to permit safety-related inspections.” “This means go and get the permission of OFAC and do this and that and blah, blah, blah,” Khazaee said, referring to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, which tightly controls all U.S. economic interaction with Iran. “This is a humanitarian issue,” Khazaee continued. “People are getting killed because of the (plane) crashes. Put yourself in Iranian(s’) shoes.” Khazaee said that Iranian policymakers are skeptical that Western powers are prepared to close a deal with Iran, especially in advance of U.S. presidential elections. “The main problem in my view is the mistrust that exists between the two sides, especially from the Iranian side,” Khazaee said. “We have to find a way to overcome this mistrust. As long as mistrust and lack of confidence exist, whatever we negotiate will not work.” Elsewhere in his remarks, the Iranian ambassador stated, “The issue of the 20 percent enrichment is the first proposal of the P5+1 and the third proposal of Iran,” Khazaee stated. “So (this) is an issue that could be discussed and decided. It is not off the table.” “I do not think it is impossible,” Khazaee said. “It is possible to close the gap. Based on good will, respect, preserving the Iranian nation’s right” — a reference to Iran’s insistence that its right to enrichment for peaceful purposes should be recognized — “not harming them.” Asked if Iran really wants a deal, Khazaee said, “It depends on how we define the deal, but the seriousness of the Iranians for negotiations is an indication.” “We should not expect that this process is a short-time process or a solution will come after just a few rounds of negotiations,” he added. “Because it is not only the nuclear issue, it is the whole idea of decades of mistrust and hostility.” Asked if progress would be possible before the U.S. presidential election, which is scheduled to be held on November 6, 2012, Khazaee said, “Because of the election, the U.S. government may not have enough room to maneuver… But I can tell you that we do not base our negotiation with the 5+1… on the election in the United States or in any other country.” On the sanctions imposed on the Islamic Republic, he noted, “During the (1980-88) Iran-Iraq war, we did not lose even one centimeter of land… Iran preserved its national and sovereign right… If Iranians believe something is threatening their sovereignty and national rights, they will resist… By putting pressure on Iran, the other side will also lose. We are not talking about a small isolated country… It should be a win-win solution for both sides.” Iran will not initiate any provocative action Asked about the fact that a number of Iranian officials have said that the country may close the Strait of Hormuz in response to the sanctions imposed on it, Khazaee stated, “We will react if there is any provocative act from the other side. We will not initiate any provocative steps,” he added. Iran has veto power on many issues in the region During the interview, Khazaee also commented on the Syrian crisis and criticized the United States for excluding Iran from multinational talks on Syria and asserted that Iran had facilitated the U.S. troop withdrawal from Iraq. “You are negotiating with a country that has veto power on many issues in the region. And we have shown in the past that for the stability of the region, solving problems… Iran could play a very helpful role,” he said.