Kazakhstan, Astana, Dec. 1 / Trend A.Maratov /
The United States is encouraged by the fact that Iran has agreed to participate in negotiations in Geneva next week with the representatives of the "Six" to discuss its nuclear program, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said at the OSCE Astana summit today.
"Of course, Iran has the right to use the energy for peaceful purposes, but the actions of the Iranian leadership suggest that it should be responsible, along with all of the countries involved, in the development of nuclear weapons," Clinton said.
EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs Catherine Ashton confirmed on Tuesday that the negotiations between Iran and the six international mediators (Russia, China, the United States, UK, France and Germany) will be held in Geneva on Dec. 6-7. Earlier, Iranian Ambassador to Russia Seyed Mahmoud Reza Sajjadi said Tehran agreed to hold the talks in Geneva.
In early November, Iran offered to negotiate its nuclear program in Istanbul on Nov. 23 or Dec. 5.
Clinton said the upcoming talks are a good opportunity for Iran to sit down at the negotiation table, as its nuclear program is a matter of serious concern to the international community.
The Iranian nuclear program has caused concern since 2003, when the IAEA became aware of its secret activities. In late 2003, Iran signed the Additional Protocol to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) and voluntarily announced the suspension of uranium enrichment. However, it later returned to these activities.
"The agreement that was signed after the negotiations last fall on the Tehran research reactor will be the focus of the debate," Clinton said. "But it will be amended, as according to IAEA sources, Iran's development suggests that the agreement has not been realized."
In October 2009, the IAEA and the "Six" offered Tehran to exchange low-enriched uranium (3.5-percent) for high-enriched uranium (20-percent). However, Tehran said it was ready to buy more highly enriched uranium or exchange with its reserves, provided that the exchange would be held on Iranian territory. World powers and the IAEA refused the proposal.
"The purpose of the upcoming talks in Geneva is to emphasize the concern of the international community over Iran's actions," Clinton said. "We want Iran to adopt a responsible attitude and stop developing nuclear weapons."
Enriched uranium can be used to produce nuclear weapons. However, it is also necessary as fuel for nuclear power plants. A number of states, including the United States, believe that Iran is seeking to develop nuclear weapons, and want to prevent this development.