Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is calling for the resumption of talks on Iran's nuclear program as soon as possible. The Russian minister said a more productive approach is needed to resolve international concerns about Iran's nuclear ambitions. Lavrov said he discussed Iran’s nuclear program with European Union foreign plan chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi. All agree the dormant nuclear talks should be revitalized as soon as possible. The final round of talks, which were held in January in Istanbul, broke up without any breakthrough on a proposed fuel swap plan. Under the plan, Iran would agree to end its uranium enrichment program in swap for enriched foreign material.
Western powers suspect Iran is planning to construct nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful use. Lavrov said a more detailed approach is required to ensure Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons. Through an interpreter, he said, “The Iranian partners have said that they are prepared to discuss all of these issues, and now we require to do the groundwork for the next round, which, of course, cannot simply be a round where we exchange our positions. We want now to start agreeing on specific agreements. And, the most realistic, I think, is to have a step by step approach, where originally, we re-establish confidence.”
Western countries charge that Iran’s nuclear program breaks the conditions of the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who spoke at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, did not straight deal with this controversial issue. Instead, he lashed out at the major nuclear powers, claiming their enormous stockpiles of weapons pose the greatest threat to the survival of humankind. Salehi said the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty does not give a right for states with nuclear weapons to keep their nuclear arsenals indefinitely.
Western powers suspect Iran is planning to construct nuclear weapons. Tehran denies this, saying its nuclear program is for peaceful use. Lavrov said a more detailed approach is required to ensure Iran does not pursue nuclear weapons. Through an interpreter, he said, “The Iranian partners have said that they are prepared to discuss all of these issues, and now we require to do the groundwork for the next round, which, of course, cannot simply be a round where we exchange our positions. We want now to start agreeing on specific agreements. And, the most realistic, I think, is to have a step by step approach, where originally, we re-establish confidence.”
Western countries charge that Iran’s nuclear program breaks the conditions of the international Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi, who spoke at the United Nations Conference on Disarmament, did not straight deal with this controversial issue. Instead, he lashed out at the major nuclear powers, claiming their enormous stockpiles of weapons pose the greatest threat to the survival of humankind. Salehi said the Nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty does not give a right for states with nuclear weapons to keep their nuclear arsenals indefinitely.
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