Any miscalculation by the West will scuttle Iran-5+1 talks: Iranian security chief

TEHRAN, May 14(MNA) -- The secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said that any miscalculation by Western officials will ruin the prospects for the next round of talks between Tehran and the six major powers. SNSC Secretary Saeed Jalili made the remarks during a meeting with former French prime minister Michel Rocard in Tehran on Sunday. Iran 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. Jalili, who is Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, said, “Any miscalculation by the West will prevent the negotiations from being successful.” “In Baghdad, we will wait for a measure that will win the confidence of the Iranian nation,” he added. The Iranian official also advised Western officials to avoid making “unconstructive” comments and false allegations against the Islamic Republic. Iran has adopted a “logical” attitude toward negotiations with the world powers on its nuclear program, Jalili said, adding, “The era of the strategy of pressure has drawn to a close.” The former French prime minister described the talks between Iran and the 5+1 group in Istanbul as a “step forward” and expressed hope that the Baghdad talks would produce positive results.