Baku, Azerbaijan, Jan. 15
By Umid Niayesh - Trend:
If the west imposes new sanctions against Iran, the Islamic Republic will resume uranium enrichment at the levels over five percent, the Iranian parliament speaker, Ali Larijani said.
The Iranian MPs have a plan for enriching uranium in every level, which will come into force, if the western side takes new steps to impose sanctions, Larijani said, Iran 's Fars news agency reported Jan. 15.
"Our enemies should understand that they can not play political tricks against Iran," Larijani said. "Iranian decision-makers are aware of the issues."
Last January, Hossein Sheikholeslam, an advisor to Larijani on international affairs said that Iranian parliament has a trump card in case the US imposes new sanctions on Iran.
"The parliament of Iran has a plan to enrich uranium up to 60 percent, and until today, 218 members of the parliament have signed this document," he said. "If new sanctions on Iran are issued, the parliament will approve the document."
The Larijani's new statement shows that the Islamic Republic continues to use the "trump card" against any possible new sanctions.
Iran and the P5+1 (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) reached a nuclear agreement on November 24, 2013 for providing Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities including 20 percent uranium enrichment.
While commenting about the future of the nuclear talks, Larijani said the western side should avoid political bargaining and follow a realistic approach to achieve a final nuclear agreement with the Islamic Republic.
Talks between Iran and the P5+1 group have been extended until July 1, 2015 to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement.
Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US counterpart, John Kerry held a meeting in Geneva on Jan. 14 aimed at accelerating pace of the new negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group.
A fresh round of the Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks is scheduled for Jan. 18 in Geneva.
Edited by CN