Talks with Iran, West’s only option

Iran’s significant role in the region will leave the West with no option but to continue negotiations with the Islamic Republic, says an Iranian legislative.

The P5+1 — Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany — are irked by Iran’s active approach in the negotiations as Tehran’s readiness to resolve regional issues has put the country at the same level with that of the West, Heshmatollah Falahatpisheh told IRNA on Sunday.

Recalling “most countries’ opposition to anti-Iran sanctions,” he brushed aside the possibility of more sanctions on Tehran and cited Iran’s approach towards the multifaceted talks and nuclear activities as rational.

The member of the National Security and Foreign Policy Committee of the Majlis (Parliament) also touched upon the most recent comprehensive talks between the Islamic Republic and the 5+1 in the Turkish city of Istanbul, saying during the talks Iran deemed its peaceful nuclear program non-negotiable and a finished issue, but the West insisted that it wanted to keep it on the table for more talks.

Despite the West’s endeavors to mount pressure and create new issues against Iran, the 5+1 has no choice but to continue the negotiations, the Iranian lawmaker concluded.

Iran and the 5+1 held two-day multifaceted talks in Istanbul on January 21 and 22.

Iran says the Istanbul talks, which focused on dialog for cooperation, were held in a positive atmosphere and both sides agreed to continue talks based on agreements reached at the December 6-7 Geneva talks.

The Islamic Republic has already said that it would take part in the negotiations with a positive standpoint while making it clear that it will not discuss its nuclear program since the issue is outside the jurisdiction of the UN Security Council and should be under the realm of the International Atomic Energy Agency.