Zarif Hopes Iran-5+1 Constructive Talks Continue In Geneva

Tehran, Nov 6, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif described the process of constructive talks with the 5+1 in New York, Geneva and Vienna as progressing and hoped this will continue during the upcoming round of talks in Geneva on Thursday and Friday this week. The foreign minister made the remarks in Paris Tuesday evening in a meeting with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius. According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry, the two ministers focused on the mutual relations, regional and international developments, Tehran’s nuclear program, talks between Iran and the 5+1 and crisis in Syria. Referring to the ancient constructive ties between Iran and France, Zarif pointed to the many commonalities the two nations shared and hoped the existing obstacles in the way of expansion of bilateral relations would be removed by the political will of the two sides. Stressing the need to eliminate the concerns of both sides of the talks, he underscored the importance of respecting Iran’s rights to make peaceful use of nuclear technology. Turning to the Syrian crisis, the Iranian FM dismissed any foreign intervention and noted that Iran since the very beginning of the crisis has emphasized the importance of settling the issue through Syrian-Syrian dialogue and other diplomatic ways. Iran believes there is no military solution to the crisis, he reiterated. He further voiced Iran’s readiness to continue efforts to help settle the critical situation in Syria through peaceful means. The French foreign minister, for his part, underlined the need for further cooperation between the two foreign ministries to work out proper grounds for expansion of relations. Voicing Paris readiness to exchange views with Tehran on mutual relations, regional developments including the situation in Syria and Iran’s nuclear program, he believed joint efforts to remove obstacles indicate a common interest to settle the issues existing between the two countries. Pointing to the new atmosphere prevailing the talks between Iran and the 5+1, the French foreign minister stressed the need for mutual confidence building. Stressing the importance of settling Iran’s nuclear issue through dialogue, he underlined Iran’s right for pursuance of nuclear energy. He further lauded Iran’s role in settling the critical situation in Syria./end