Nuclear talks must lead to lifting of all anti-Iran bans: Zarif

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says talks between Iran and six world powers aimed at reaching a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear energy program should result in the total removal of all anti-Iran sanctions.

“The result of the negotiations should be the removal of all sanctions,” Zarif said in a joint press conference with his Swedish counterpart Carl Bildt in Tehran on Tuesday.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, France, Britain and the US – plus Germany reached a deal in the Swiss city of Geneva in November 2013. The interim deal that came into force on January 20 is aimed at resolving the decade-old dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

The two sides are scheduled to hold the next round of their nuclear talks in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on February 18.

Zarif further said Tehran believes that the US-led unilateral sanctions have been illegal and did nothing to help solve the dispute over the peaceful nuclear activities by Iran.

The top Iranian diplomat noted that the sanctions, which made it difficult for the Iranian companies to purchase even food and medical items, have intensified pessimism among the Iranian people.

The Swedish foreign minister also voiced his country’s support for finding a final and comprehensive solution to the dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

He said that the issue can be solved within a six-month period if both sides show goodwill.

The Swedish foreign minister said that the new atmosphere that has been created as a result of the interim deal has greatly facilitated the possibility to develop dialog with Iran.

Bildt also said his country respects “Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear energy program.”

He further called for the expansion of the ties between Iran and Sweden, especially in economic and trade areas.

“We look forward to the intensification of economic and commercial links with Iran”, Bildt said.