Turkish president believes in diplomatic solution to Iran’s nuclear issue

TEHRAN, April 26 (MNA) – Turkish President Abdullah Gul called for the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program to be resolved through diplomatic channels. Gul made the remarks during a recent interview with Benjamin Pauker, senior editor of the Foreign Policy magazine. “I can understand Iran’s desire to develop their nuclear capacity… I’m one of those that believe this has to be resolved diplomatically. All these statements that Israel makes about making war – I think this is wrong. Whether or not we like a country, every country has their honor and their national feelings… it’s very important to look at issues from a broader perspective,” the Turkish president stated. The main bone of contention between Tehran and the West is Iran’s uranium enrichment program. Iran says all its nuclear activities are totally peaceful, and, as an International Atomic Energy Agency member and a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, it has the legal right to produce nuclear fuel for its research reactors and nuclear power plants. Israeli officials and a number of Western officials have issued threats of military action against Iran if diplomacy fails to resolve the dispute. And Iran has made it clear that any attack on the country will be met with a crushing response. Tehran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) held a new round of talks in Istanbul on April 14, breaking a 15-month hiatus in talks, and agreed to meet again in Baghdad on May 23. Now, all eyes are on the Baghdad talks to see whether an agreement can be reached between Iran and world powers.