Iran FM: Comprehensive Political Talks With US Possible Only with S Leader’s Permission

Zahedan, Sistan and Baluchestan prov, Dec 3, IRNA – Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi said only the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Ali Khamenei could decide about any comprehensive political talks with the US. Talking to IRNA on Monday here in southeastern country, the foreign minister made the remarks in response to his US counterpart Hillary Clinton. He said topical talks had taken place between the US and Iran before and there is no obstacle on the way of repeating it, however, he added, any comprehensive political negotiations with Washington will be possible only through the approval of the Supreme Leader. Commenting on the recent remarks of the US foreign secretary regarding Washington’s desire for direct talks with Tehran, he noted that subject-oriented talks on certain issues like the situation in Afghanistan and Iraq were already held with the US. He said talks about the Iranian nuclear program is also conducted with the US within the framework of negotiations with the 5+1 but if the public opinion is thinking of comprehensive political talks then they should note that it is only the Supreme Leader who has the authority to decide. He stressed that indirect talks with the US had been conducted in many stages so far and currently the US is present in talks with the 5+1 as well and there is no ban on it. Salehi said it was not quite clear for him what Mrs Clinton meant by direct talks but if she is thinking of talks on certain topics like Iran’s nuclear program then such a thing is currently underway and has no particular significance./end