Iran Ready for Comprehensive Talks with West

Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said on Monday that Tehran is fully ready for negotiations with the West, but within the framework of a package of proposals delivered by Tehran to the six world powers last week.

“Our nation supports interaction and dialogue. We are ready for such interaction and dialogue within the framework of our presented package of proposals,” Qashqavi told reporters in a weekly press conference here in Tehran.

Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki presented Iran’s updated nuclear package to the ambassadors and representatives of the six major powers on Wednesday.

The package was submitted to the ambassadors of France, Russia, Germany, and China, the British charge d’affaires, and the Swiss ambassador to Tehran, whose country represents US interests section in Iran.

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has said he seeks a meeting with Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili “at the earliest possible opportunity”.

Commenting upon Iran’s answer to Solana’s request for talks, Qashqavi said, “…relevant channels will schedule the date (for talks). I cannot announce a fixed date. The public will be informed if the time of the meeting is fixed.”

However, Qashqavi reiterated Iran’s firm stance on the country’s inalienable rights to access nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, and added, “The Iranian nation will not negotiate for its inalienable nuclear rights.”

“The national, regional and international capacity of the Islamic Republic is too big to allow Tehran to attend talks over minor, temporary and small issues,” the spokesman noted, and added, “The other side can use this good capacity in a bid to step on the path of honest and constructive interaction with Iran in the area of global security issues.”