Salehi: VP, Bidenˈs Comments Sign Of Washingtonˈs Change Of Approach

Berlin, Feb 5, IRNA – Iranˈs Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said here Monday he believes US Vice President Joe Bidenˈs proposal for one-to-one talks with Tehran is a sign of Washingtonˈs changed approach towards Iran. According to IRNA, Salehi made the comment during his address at the German Foreign Relations Council, adding, ˈAs I also said yesterday, I am optimistic. I feel that this new (US) administration this time truly wants to change its past approach towards my country.ˈ Salehi who was in Germany to participate at the three-day Munich Security Conference added, ˈIt is very difficult for Tehran and for Washington to have trust in each other.ˈ He said, ˈHow could we trust this newly adopted stand?ˈ Concerning Iran, the US Vice President Joe Biden said that the US was open to one-to-one talks with Iran, if the Iranian Supreme Leader would be willing to, over its nuclear program, saying that diplomacy must be given a chance. Salehi also told the delegates that Iran is a regional power and the golden key to the region calling for talks on equal terms. He said Washington should first end its threatening rhetoric towards Iran and stop saying that all options are on the table. The prospect of direct talks between the US and Iran was widely welcomed by the delegates. On Saturday, several thousand people took to the streets of Munich to demonstrate against the conference, calling the meeting a source of war. Under the slogan “No Peace with NATO” protesters from 80 organizations spoke out against what they called a colonialist intervention in Mali, the preparation of a war on Syria and demanded the lifting of sanctions on Iran./end