Cleric Calls on World Powers to Use Wisdom in Baghdad Talks with Iran

Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Mohammad Emami Kashani underlined Iran’s pursuit of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes, and called on the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) to act wisely in the upcoming talks with Iran in Baghdad on May 23.

Addressing a large and fervent congregation of worshippers on Tehran University Campus here on Friday, Ayatollah Emami Kashani stressed the peaceful nature of Iran’s nuclear program, and said the accusations leveled against Iran’s nuclear activities are unfounded and futile.

He further pointed to the upcoming talks between Tehran and 5+1, and called on the world powers to “use wisdom as their yardstick” in the next round of the negotiations.

Iran and the six world powers resumed negotiations in Istanbul on April 14 after a year of stalled talks and are due to continue their negotiations in Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad, on May 23.

Tehran’s chief negotiator Saeed Jalili headed the Iranian side, and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton led the delegations of the world powers.

Both Jalili and Ashton voiced satisfaction with the talks.

Iranian officials have expressed the hope that the positive trend of talks between Tehran and the six world powers in Istanbul would continue in Baghdad, and stressed that removal of sanctions should be the least result of the upcoming round of negotiations.

After two rounds of fruitful talks with the six world powers, Jalili said that withdrawing sanctions against Iran should be a focal point in any future talks on cooperation between Iran and the world powers.

“It is of crucial importance that our (future) cooperation will entail reciprocal steps, that is, our nation’s trust should be built in the trend of talks and cooperation,” Jalili told reporters at a press conference after the second meeting with the representatives of the G5+1 in Istanbul.