West’s insistence on sanctions will scuttle negotiations: cleric

TEHRAN, April 21(MNA) – The leader of this week’s Friday prayers in Tehran said that the talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) will break down if the West insists on retaining sanctions against the Islamic Republic. Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said, “The West should lift sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran so that the Iranian nation will believe that they do not want to continue their hostility.” “If they insist on sanctions and then say that they will negotiate with Iran, it is clear that the negotiations will be cancelled,” he added. Tehran and the 5+1 group held a new round of talks in Istanbul on April 14. They also agreed to meet in Baghdad on May 23. The Istanbul talks were described as being “constructive” and “positive” by the two sides. Iran says the West should start lifting sanctions before the Baghdad talks in order to build confidence and help the talks be productive.