Salehiˈs Suggestions For 5+1G, Pres. Obama

Vienna, Feb 5, IRNA – IRI Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said in an interview Monday Iranˈs right to take peaceful advantage of nuclear energy and entire process of nuclear fuel production, including uranium enrichment need to be respected. According to IRNA, Salehi made the comment in an interview with Swiss daily Tages-Anzeiger, expressing hope that the new US administration of President Barrack Obama would be truly well intentioned, as its officialsˈ comments convey, so that satisfactory results for both sides could be achieved. The head of Iranian diplomatic apparatus reiterated, ˈWe cannot be taking unilateral steps without gaining respective responses from the other side.ˈ Below is excerpts of Salehiˈs interview with this Swiss dailyˈs reporters, Stephan Cornelius and Paul Antoine Kruger, in Munich, Germany. Q: US Vice President proposed direct US talks with Iran here today. Will this proposal create dynamism in the course of the nuclear talks? Salehi: The Iranian nuclear file has been open during the past 10 years and it has had its particular ups and downs. The Proper stand presently is to channelize it in the right direction. I have always been optimistic. Our efforts are aimed at seeking solution to please both sides. The important point here is that both sidesˈ serious concerns must be respected in this process.ˈ Q: What does that mean from Iranˈs point of the view? Salehi: From our point of the view, the matter means there are worries in this respect that we might take non-peaceful advantage of our nuclear program. There are many mechanisms and means at the disposal of the international community to secure its interests in this respect. Therefore, resorting to them such concerns can be eliminated. For the other side, too, this means that they should respect our concerns, including our right in the framework of the nuclear NPT for taking peaceful advantage of the nuclear energy, inclusive of having access to the full process of enrichment and fuel provision for our facilities, which is inclusive of uranium enrichment. I hope the new Obama administration would pursue this matter with good intentions so that satisfactory results for both sides would be achieved. Q: Would you reply positively to the US direct talks proposal? Salehi: We have already had direct talks with the United States, such as talks on Afghanistan in Bonn and on Iraq, in Baghdad. Of course I am not talking about one-to-one talks, but we see no obstacle in that respect either. We are read for holding talks on limited issues, such as the nuclear issue. But first we need to wait and see whether this new US approach and this new proposal is frank, or is it another trick against the opposite side. We are monitoring the issue precisely and cautiously, but also with a positive approach. Q: When will the time come for pursuing the talks with US, either in the framework of the 5+1G, or in one-to-one talks with an American official? Salehi: We have currently reached agreement on holding a new round of Iran-5+1G talks in Kazakhstan on February 25th. We hope the two sidesˈ proposals would be seriously heeded there and both sides would observe flexibility, so that we would be able to reach joint proposals. We do to expect fast solutions, but thanking a simple and positive step would be very important so that the future talks would be pursued dynamically. Q: You ask for recognition of Iranˈs uranium enrichment right. Is this a precondition for the negotiations and are you ready for suspension of the enrichment right temporarily for trust building? Salehi: If both sides would be truly willing to solve the issue there would be various means and ways and many possible agreements and contracts to be taken advantage of. Of course I cannot decide the course of the negotiations, which can themselves show how our needs for uranium enrichment would be met. I can only say this much that if any side would take a positive step the other side, too, must show its good will dynamically. Q: Does that mean that the sanctions must be lifted? Salehi: The sanctions are a part of it. We cannot take unilateral steps while the other side would not report at all.ˈ Q: Last year, too, the situation was the same. Now what has happened to make a significant difference? Salehi: The problem is mutual lack of trust. It is not right to negotiate with us on the one hand and impose mounting pressure on us on the other hand. In other words, the carrot and stick policy will not work. Furthermore, if the reasoning and explanations that we present would be accepted, then we, too, would not be able to resort of certain unreasonable arguments. But if there would be a will to find a solution in this round of talks, then the situation would be different. For instance, if it would be said that we might be pursuing non-peaceful objective in the future, we would not be able to prove the opposite at any rate. Q: This lack of trust has its background of course. The IAEA has documents that a part of Iranˈs nuclear program can be regarded somehow with military objectives, doesnˈt it? Salehi: They can accuse anyone of such intentions and that they might sometime in the future pursue other objectives. How can this be proved? How can the opposite be proved? Our supreme Leader has issued a verdict that manufacturing the nuclear weapons is forbidden in Islam. Q: Close cooperation with the agency can build trust. This means in this respect Iran must have clear stand and to make clear whether it had in the past worked in line with bob manufacturing or not, and whether it would permit the IAEA inspectors to visit sites like Parchin. Salehi: This process cannot go on for good, since any time we make clear an ambiguity we are faced with new demands. It is not right that any time that a minute accusation is brought up by any their party and new file would be opened against us. We said that the agency must present its entire question. The IAEA presented six questions and we answered them. But they said we are sorry we now have new information that Iran has manufacture a missile that can be armed with nuclear warhead. That is not the right approach to bring up accusation continually and baselessly. Q: Do you have anything to hide? Salehi: The agencyˈs conducted inspections in Iran are unprecedented in it history. We are very transparent. The issues related to military dimensions have been pursued in various gatherings and in near future, too, there would be another round of clarifications. The matter is not refraining to issue permits for visit a certain site. We say if we did so then the agency must close this file for good./end