Iran calls US Carrot-and-Stick Approach as Dictation, not Negotiation

Iranˈs Ambassador to Germany Ali Reza Sheikh Attar called US and its alliesˈ carrot-and-stick approach towards Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities and their quest for direct and indirect talks as dictation not negotiation, according to IRNA.

He made the remarks in a scientific seminar named as ˈIran from a Different Perspectiveˈ in Berlin hosted by Tehranˈs embassy. Many Iranian and German political and economic activists attended the ceremony.

“Any kind of negotiation should be based on mutual respect and it should be hold under just and equal terms. The upcoming Iran and G5+1 talks in Kazakhstan pursues its previous agenda which aimed at clarifying the two sidesˈ questions and demands from each other.

Iranian ambassador to Germany pointed to Iran’s nuclear offers in the previous negotiations in Baghdad, Istanbul and Moscow and underlined that based on Iran’s five-stage offer for the resolution of Iran’s nuclear issue, Tehran would respond to the Westˈs questions and instead the West will remove the sanctions and pressures, gradually.

 “Tehran cannot stop 20 percent enrichment because it needs this level of uranium enrichment for its Tehran research reactor which provides the isotopes required for cancer treatment.”

Reminding western states repeated promises about providing Iran’s required 20 percent enriched uranium, he noted that the Western governments promise about preparing the ground for providing Tehran’s research reactor’s required uranium in exchange for the halt of 20 percent enrichment by Iran is supposed to be another trick.

ˈThere is no reason for the closure of Fordo enrichment facility because it works under the IAEA supervision and is controlled 24 hours by the inspector’s live cameras installed there.”

Sheikh Attar voiced hope that the upcoming talks in Almaty make a result and noted that using the talks as a pressure tool will not lead to a positive consequence.

Responding a question about the impacts of upcoming 2013 presidential election on Iran’s foreign policy, he said that the upcoming presidential election has no impact on Iran’s foreign policy principles, including its stance towards nuclear issue or direct talks with the US.

“Sanctions are old tools used by Iranian nation’s enemies to make them bend towards their illegal demands but the nation will not retreat and its diversified economy can bear any kind of embargo, and hence the West’s policy of “carrots and sticks” is a failed approach towards Tehran’s nuclear activities.”

Meanwhile, a Russian official here Monday described US unilateral sanctions on Iran as oppressive, saying his country does not support the bans, according to IRAN.

Andrei Lugansky, head of Russia-Iran business council, told IRNA that sanctions have been imposed on Iran on the basis of unfounded documents.

Lugansky further criticized the Westˈs anti-Iran approach, stressing that sanctions

were against international criteria. He underlined the need for lifting the sanctions.

Restrictions, the Russian official said, have well prepared the ground for promotion of Tehran-Moscow relations.

He reiterated that no one can create obstacles in the way of enhancing bilateral cooperation between the two nations.

R.S