Iran calls on P5+1 to make new proposals
On October 6, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called on the P5+1 Group (including the UK, Russia, France, the US, China and Germany) to put forward new proposals at the negotiations on Tehran's nuclear program, scheduled to resume on October 15.
Foreign Minister Zarif asserted that the previous proposal of the P5+1 group at the two talks in Kazakhstan in February and April was no longer valid. ISNA news agency quoted Mr. Zarif as saying: "The previous proposal of the P5+1 group is in the past and they should enter the negotiations with a new approach."
The old proposals, made before the election won by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani in June, required Tehran to halt its 20% uranium enrichment program and halt uranium enrichment at the underground Fordo facility in the central Iranian city of Qom.
 |
| Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. (Photo: presstv.com) |
Earlier, on September 27, after talks with foreign ministers of the P5+1 countries, Foreign Minister Zarif said he expected a general agreement to be reached within the next year to ease the international community's concerns about Iran's nuclear program. In addition, he also reiterated the Tehran government's stance that its nuclear program is for civilian purposes.
In another development, speaking at a cabinet meeting in Jerusalem on October 6, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said his government does not oppose negotiations between the US and Iran.
Mr. Netanyahu affirmed that Tel Aviv is not against diplomatic talks with Iran, but believes that these talks will lead to the destruction of Tehran's uranium enrichment capacity.
According to Mr. Netanyahu, while Iran wants to achieve nuclear capabilities for peaceful purposes, there are many countries that have achieved similar capabilities "without even needing a centrifuge" and without the need for uranium enrichment activities.
Earlier, at the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly on October 1, Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu made a statement that was said to disapprove of Iran's efforts to reduce tensions with the West. Mr. Netanyahu said that the Iranian President was not "truly sincere," and affirmed that Israel would prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons even if it had to act alone.
The Israeli Prime Minister's statements have met with strong opposition from Iran. Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif declared that Tehran would not allow Israel to "interfere" in the negotiations on Iran's nuclear program; at the same time, he accused Mr. Netanyahu of wanting to sow discord to sabotage the possibility of reaching an agreement in the nuclear negotiations./.
According to (TTXVN) - DT
