Iranian sources warned on Wednesday that in case EU foreign policy chief Catherin Ashton insists on her unreal statement about the two-day talks between Tehran and the world powers in Geneva, they would release the audio file of the negotiations.
"In case EU foreign policy chief Catherin Ashton continues insisting on her unreal statement, the audio file of the talks will be released by the Iranian side," an informed source, who asked to remain anonymous, told FNA today.
As stated by Iran's top negotiator Saeed Jalili yesterday, "the statement released by Ashton after the talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in Geneva, Switzerland runs counter to the reality", the source added.
"As emphasized by the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary following the third round of talks, the future negotiations with the 5+1 in Istanbul will be based on cooperation on common points. And this shows Catherin Ashton's statement which alleged the talks had centered on Iran's nuclear issue was not real and was not in accordance with the content of the talks," he stated.
Ashton in a statement released following the third meeting between the two sides on Tuesday morning tried to link the negotiations to the Iranian nuclear issue, and alleged, "We have had nearly two days of detailed substantive talks, focusing on the Iranian nuclear program and the need for Iran to comply with its international obligations."
"We recognize Iran's rights but insist it fulfills its obligations. We are ready to address and seek common ground also on other issues of mutual interest."
"We and Iran agreed to a continuation of these talks in late January in Istanbul where we plan to discuss practical ideas and ways of cooperating toward resolution of our core concerns about the nuclear issue."
In response, Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili underlined during a press conference after the end of the talks that "our agreement was one sentence which was concluded by Mrs. Ashton and we accepted it after all the 6 countries (of the Group 5+1) approved it, and that sentence is 'talks for cooperation over common points in January in Istanbul'".
"Anything beyond this sentence is against our agreement and this sentence itself was not my conclusion, rather it was the conclusion made by Mrs. Ashton, which was first approved by the 6 countries and then by us."
Asked if Ashton's statement could lead to talks over Iran's nuclear program, Jalili reiterated, "Any move against this issue (the single-sentence agreement) is disrespect for our session and the Istanbul talks will be held merely on this basis."
"We will by no means allow the rights of the Iranian nation to become the agenda of negotiations," the Iranian top negotiator reiterated.
"The talks in Istanbul will merely be run on the basis of the conclusion reached in this session and as I have mentioned several times, we do not accept and will not at all allow the rights of the Iranian nation to become the agenda of talks," Jalili reiterated.
The Iranian negotiator described the talks between Tehran and the Group 5+1 as "an opportunity for the opposite side to make use of the Islamic Republic of Iran's capacities in area of international issues".
Asked if a combination or contrast of Ashton's statements and his remarks should be interpreted as a confrontation between Iran and the world powers, Jalili stressed, "I repeat once again that the conclusion made by the (participants in the) session, and not by us, was the holding of talks in Istanbul about cooperation on common points in January."
"We hope the 5+1 would remain loyal to the agreement and the conclusion that they themselves have reached and as long as they remain loyal to this conclusion that was presented in the session by Mrs. Ashton, these talks can be held and this agreement will be valid," Jalili continued.
Senior negotiators from Iran and the Group 5+1 attended three sessions on Monday and Tuesday in a new round of talks in Geneva, Switzerland.
The two sides agreed at the end of their third session to hold the next round of talks in Istanbul late in January.
Diplomatic sources said after the talks that the next round of negotiations will be aimed at "talks for cooperation" and "finding common grounds for cooperation".
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