Zarif: G5+1 Must Respect Iran's Rights

Tehran, Nov 23, IRNA – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in Geneva on Friday that the Iranian nation’s rights within the nuclear-NPT must be fully respected by the sextet and they should refrain from imposing pressure against the Iranians. The top nuclear negotiator also noted that during the previous ministerial round of nuclear talks in Geneva the major obstacle in the way of reaching a result was the internal differences of opinion among the six world powers. Zarif who was speaking with the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), reiterated, “It is quite natural that those six countries enter the negotiation table with varying stands and different interests, and there is no need for them to have shared stands, but what is needed is probably greater proximity of viewpoints. The Iranian top diplomat emphasized that Iran believes the Iranian nation’s rights are fully recognized in the treaty and in the international laws, and what is needed now is that the members of the P5+1 (also known as the E3+3, and 5+1G) countries, too, should respect those rights and refrain from Imposing pressure against Iranian nation, just because they wish to be benefited from their rights. The fourth round of nuclear talks headed by Zarif and the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton began at 9 am Friday, but at 10 past ten they were interrupted due to need for more internal consultations among the six world powers./end