Tehran is serious about upcoming talks with the six world powers, and expects them to be forthcoming, according to a statement from the Iranian Mission to the United Nations. Iran is scheduled to discuss its controversial nuclear program with China, Britain, France, Germany, Russia and the United States on February 26 in Kazakhstan. Tehran’s statement warned that “exerting pressure on Iran will definitely derail” diplomatic efforts. It came in response to European Union High Representative Lady Catherine Ashton’s remarks at a U.N. Security Council meeting. “We hope that Iran will come to this negotiation with flexibility and that we can make substantial progress,” she told the council. The following is an excerpt from Ashton’s remarks, followed by the full text of the Iranian statement.
Iran Responds to U.N. on Nuclear Program
European Union High Representative Lady Catherine Ashton
“We hope that Iran will come to this negotiation with flexibility and that we can make substantial progress... We remain determined to work towards a solution to the Iran nuclear issue based on the dual-track approach..."
"There is no doubt that the pressure of sanctions has been instrumental in bringing Iran back to the negotiating table but sanctions cannot be an end in themselves... The key is for Iran to comply fully with its international obligations." Feb. 13, 2013 in remarks to the U.N. Security Council
Statement of the Iranian Mission to the United Nations
In the Security Council meeting held on 13 February 2013 to hear the statement by H.E. Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the “cooperation between the United Nations and regional and sub-regional organization in maintaining international peace and security: European Union” references were made on Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities by some members of the Security Council. In this regard the Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations would like to present the following points:
• As it has been stated time and again, the Islamic Republic of Iran is fully committed to the NPT and is determined to continue its cooperation with the IAEA in accordance with its Safeguards Agreement and is firmly determined to continue to defend its legitimate rights to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, as stipulated in the NPT.
• It is obvious that the legitimate rights of Iran to fuel cycle, including enrichment of uranium should be fully recognized by the Group 5+1 according to NPT.
• The Islamic Republic of Iran has always expressed its readiness to continue the dialogue, on the basis of common understanding and mutual respect.
• The officials of the Islamic Republic of Iran have reiterated in several occasions that dual track approach currently pursued by a number of countries is a futile exercise in the sense that the track at exerting pressure on Iran will definitely derail the efforts on the diplomatic track. So any negotiations to be successful must be conducted in a cooperative, constructive and positive spirit.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is serious about those talks and expects the other side to be serious and forthcoming so that the next round of negotiations to be held on 26 February 2013 in Kazakhstan would lead to positive and fruitful results.