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U.S. statements even for domestic consumption can hamper progress in nuclear talks - Iran's FM

Iran Materials 5 February 2014 13:56 (UTC +04:00)
The U.S. statements, even if they are oriented for domestic consumption, can hamper any progress towards reaching appropriate results in nuclear talks, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.
U.S. statements even for domestic consumption can hamper progress in nuclear talks - Iran's FM

Baku, Azerbaijan, Feb. 5

By Saeed Isayev - Trend:

The U.S. statements, even if they are oriented for domestic consumption, can hamper any progress towards reaching appropriate results in nuclear talks, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said, Press TV channel reported live on Feb. 5.

Zarif made the remarks at the joint press conference in Tehran, with Secretary General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Iyad Madani.

When asked about Feb. 4 statements of the lead U.S. negotiator with Iran, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, Zarif expressed hope that the U.S. would be looking for a solution, based on realities.

"In one of his interviews, I think, Mr. Barack Obama has clearly stated the wishes of the U.S.,which is finding a solution based on realities," Zarif said. "I think it is good for Mrs. Sherman to review those realities once in a while since certain remarks can harm the negotiating process."

On Feb. 4, Sherman said that an initial agreement to curb Iran's nuclear program was "not perfect" but it bought time to try to secure a comprehensive deal, according to Reuters.

"We see this as a first step so we don't consider the gaps that exist loopholes because this is not a final agreement," Sherman, told lawmakers.

Zarif underscored that Iran has openly said that the country's nuclear technology is not negotiable.

"Iran's nuclear facilities lack any value, there's no need to negotiate for them," Iran's FM said, adding that Iran seeks peaceful purposes in its nuclear program.

"We do negotiate, but Iranian people know, and they are certain that Iran's delegation will not retreat from the rights of people. They will not overlook any rights, and I am sure they will come up with the same result in the negotiations," Zarif said.

He went on to add that Iran negotiates with the U.S. only regarding the nuclear issue.

"Iran's foreign ministry can discuss all of the country's foreign policy, but we don't consider other issues to be relevant in our talks with the U.S.," he said.

Iran and the P5+1 reached a nuclear agreement on Nov. 24. Iran has agreed to curb some of its nuclear activities for six months in return for sanctions relief. Both Iran and the P5+1 group have agreed to implement the agreement starting from Jan. 20.

Under the agreement, six major powers agreed to give Iran access to $4.2 billion in revenues blocked overseas if it carries out the deal, which offers sanctions relief in exchange for steps to curb the Iranian nuclear program.

The U.S. and its Western allies suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran denies. The Islamic Republic has on numerous occasions stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear energy for medical researches instead.

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