Iran’s foreign ministry to lead nuclear talks

Iranian president Hassan Rouhani has assigned the foreign ministry to lead nuclear negotiations with world powers over country’s civilian nuclear program.

The president’s website announced the report without giving further information.

Negotiations have previously been conducted by the head of the country’s Supreme National Security Council.

Rouhani, who was elected as Iran’s new president in June 14th election, had pledged before that he is going to solve Western standoff on Iran’s nuclear program.

The US accuses Iran, a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, of not pursuing civilian purposes in its nuclear activities.

Iran has rejected the accusations and let the International Atomic Energy Agency conduct several rounds of investigations on its nuclear sites.

Quickly after taking office, Rouhani formed a group of experts to study the case and provide him a detailed report of previous developments.

He has criticized the West for the US-led sanctions and called for transparent negotiations to solve the problem.

The US has imposed several rounds of illegal sanctions on Iran, which Washington claims to be aimed at pressuring Tehran to abandon its nuclear energy program.

In its latest measure against Iran, the US House of Representatives last Wednesday approved a bill to impose tougher sanctions on Tehran’s oil exports and financial sector.

Tehran has categorically rejected the West’s accusations, arguing that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.