Ashton Stresses Iran’s Right to Access Civilian N. Technology

EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton described the Saturday negotiations between Iran and the six world powers as “useful” and “constructive”, and underlined Tehran’s right to access a peaceful nuclear program.

Ashton made the remarks in a press conference after two rounds of multifaceted talks between negotiating teams from Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) in Istanbul on Saturday.

“We were assured that Iran is serious. We are seeking to have Iran to remain committed to international undertakings,” said Ashton, who leads the world powers in the talks with Iran.

“Iran should enjoy the right to have a peaceful nuclear program,” she said.

Ashton also said that the two sides “will meet in Baghdad on May 23”, and stressed, “We are serious about taking tangible and practical measures.”

After a year of stalled talks, Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) eventually accepted last month to resume their negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 14 and in case of good progress hold a second round of talks in Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad.

The two sides attended two meetings at Istanbul’s Lutfil Kirdar Hall today. Ashton led the delegations of the world powers, while the Iranian side was headed by chief negotiator and Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Saeed Jalili.

At the first round of talks, the Iranian team of negotiators called on the western parties to take proper measures to build Iran’s confidence.

Ashton’s Spokesman Michael Mann described the first round of talks between the two sides as “positive” and “constructive”.