ID :
358739
Mon, 03/02/2015 - 08:58
Auther :

Velayati: Iran-US talks only on nuclear issue

TEHRAN, Mar. 02 (MNA) – The head of Strategic Research Center of the Expediency Council said Iran currently talks with US only about nuclear issues. Ali Akbar Velayati, advisor to Leader of the Islamic Republic attended a joint press conference with Italian Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni after their meeting on Sunday. On a question of his assessment of the future relations with the US if both sides failed to reach a deal, Velayati quoted Italian foreign minister on the negotiations being in a critical stage, saying that any damage to the negotiations process should be avoided. “As far as it relates to Iran, the country has not deviated frameworks and norms defined by international conventions; our activities have been for peaceful use of nuclear energy, and we have been trying to address the allegations made against Iran,” he added. Velayati also responded to a question by an Italian reporter who asked about a possible détente between Iran and the US should the negotiations hammered out a deal ever; “we are talking to the US negotiators only about nuclear issue, setting aside all other issues for the time being,” he said. On Wendy Sherman’s recent remarks about new sanctions against Iran, Velayati believed that Sherman addressed her speech to domestic extreme right circles to placate them, though, Velayati noted, “there have been contradictions in positions made by US officials as well.” About possible cooperation negotiated between Italian research centers and Strategic Research Center, Velayati expressed hopes to extend economic, political and cultural relations with Italy. Paolo Gentiloni for his part responded to questions by the reporters. About the coalitions air strikes against ISIL in Iraq, he said that the coalition specifically sought to target and destroy the so-called ISIL; “we act as provider of arms and training for public fighters in Iraq and Peshmerga of Kurdistan; to achieve this, we regularly use surveillance drones taking off the ground in Kuwait,” he said. On the IAEA’s positive reports about Iran’s nuclear program and the fact that military nature of Iran’s nuclear program had gone unsubstantiated, Gentiloni said that the critical stage of the negotiations entails a prudent avoidance of making new controversial remarks about the negotiations. “Positive outcome of negotiations would benefit both Iran and the international community; we hope that the Geneva Joint Plan of Action would bring favorable results; if a good deal is hit, Iran and Italy would cooperate in better light,” Gentiloni asserted.

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