Iran urges helpful Mideast role to settle nuclear issue

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called on the regional countries to assume a constructive role in resolving the issues regarding Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of Tehran’s nuclear talks with the six powers in Geneva, Zarif said, “If I were the [officials of] the regional countries, I would help resolve the nuclear problem and the objective of this process is also resolving the nuclear problem with the US.”

He made the remarks in response to a question about a recent statement by Bahraini Foreign Minister Sheikh Khaled bin Ahmed Al Khalifa, in which he criticized Iran’s recent interactions with the US in the course of the ongoing nuclear talks.

“Iran had better improve its relations with the neighbors before improving its ties with the US,” the Bahraini foreign minister said.

Zarif reiterated Iran’s determination to promote its regional ties, noting, “We have always said that we give priority to our neighbors; and at present our issue is not the improvement of ties with the US; but I don’t know why some regional countries are so concerned about the matter.”

“I do not think the settlement of the [nuclear] issue will create any problems for the regional countries and I think they should be a little patient and helpful,” Zarif pointed out.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, Britain, China, Russia, France and the United States, plus Germany concluded three days of intense nuclear talks in Geneva, Switzerland early Sunday.