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Progress in Moscow talks depends on mutual trust building: Salehi


Iran’s Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the progress in the upcoming round of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group in Moscow depends on the establishment of mutual trust and the adoption of ‘wise’ policies.

During a meeting with the visiting former president of the Austrian National Council, Werner Fasslabend, in Tehran on Sunday, Salehi expressed hope that Iran-P5+1 talks in the Russian capital would proceed in an atmosphere of mutual trust, goodwill and wise policies between both parties.

The Iranian foreign minister elaborated on Tehran’s principled, transparent and clear policy on its inalienable right to enjoy nuclear energy for civilian purposes, while being committed to international rules and regulations.

Salehi further pointed to the fatwa (religious decree) issued by the Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei against nuclear weapons, stressing that Tehran and the P5+1 can settle matters in a way that guarantees the rights of the Iranian nation.

On February 22, the Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei said the Islamic Republic considers the pursuit and possession of nuclear weapons “a grave sin” from every logical, religious and theoretical standpoint.

The Leader of Islamic Ummah and Oppressed People Imam Seyyed Ali Khamenei also described the proliferation of nuclear weapons as “senseless, destructive and dangerous,” adding that the Iranian nation has never sought and will never seek atomic bombs as the country already has the conventional capacity to challenge the nuclear-backed powers.

Fasslabend, for his part, emphasized that Iran’s nuclear issue should be resolved through diplomatic means.

He also expressed hope that the parties involved in the discussions can come together so as to turn matters to their benefit, adding that such an environment will help promote regional and international peace and security.

Iran and the six world powers wrapped up their latest talks in Baghdad on May 24 after two days of negotiations.

The Iranian negotiating delegation was headed by Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, and the delegations of the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany were headed by the EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Iran and the P5+1 have agreed to hold another round of talks in Moscow on June 18 and 19.

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