Iran Not to Cross Nuclear Obligations, Not to Accept Less than Rights

Ahead of talks with major powers over its nuclear program, Iran signaled that it will continue to pursue its nuclear program.

“We will not accept anything beyond our obligations and will not accept anything less than our rights,” said Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili, as quoted by the Iranian state ISNA news agency Saturday.

“Iran has fulfilled its NPT [Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty] obligations as an active and committed member, [and] therefore should gain all of its rights,” Jalili said in an address to Iranian nuclear industry officials.

The official’s remarks come ahead of a meeting between Iran and six world powers [Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany] in Kazakhstan Tuesday. The talks will be the first between the parties since three rounds of meetings in Moscow ended in stalemate in June 2012.

“The Iranian nation will defend its rights including its nuclear rights … Iranian people do not accept to be treated as an exception in the world,” said Jalili.
He further stated that “they have announced that they have imposed crippling pressures on the Iranian nation to give up its rights … but despite the sanctions they have only witnessed Iranian people … defending their rights.”

“If the 5+1 wants to enter constructive talks, then they should enter it with a new strategy and proposals. We hope the 5+1 … enter on a path that can win the Iranian people’s trust,” the top Iranian official added.