Iran Serious to Prove Allegations About Nuclear Program Were Political, Says Rafsanjani
Chairman of Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Sunday that Iran is serious to prove the allegations about nuclear program were politically-motivated, calling for the western governments to go ahead with confidence-building.
He made the remarks in a meeting with visiting Singaporean Parliament Speaker Halimeh Yacob.
Ayatollah Rafsanjani said he was pleased with progress of the talks between Iran and Group 5+1.
ˈWe have reached a sensitive juncture in the negotiations and the parties should be determined to resolve the issues,ˈ Rafsanjani said.
Describing Singapore as a young and advanced country, Rafsanjani added that peaceful coexistence of followers of various religions is indicative of correct policy of the officials to counter internal tensions.
Iran and Singapore have longstanding cultural and historical affinities and extensive capacity to develop economic cooperation, Rafsanjani said.
He said that the officials should strive for materializing the capacities.
Yacob, for her part, said that bilateral ties have a record of 40 years, calling for and diplomatic shuttle to develop economic cooperation.
Exchange of visits by the officials is not sufficient; rather the two nations should exchange visits, she said.
Referring to Iranˈs history and civilization, Yacob said, ˈWe are keen on promoting bilateral ties at the parliamentary level.ˈ
The Speaker of Singapore Parliament also invited Rafsanjani to visit Singapore.
IAEO works with Iranian nuclear experts to set agenda for upcoming nuclear talks, says Kamalvandi
Meanwhile, Iranˈs Atomic Energy Organization and Iranian nuclear experts are due to hold a joint meeting aimed to set the agenda for the next round of nuclear talks slated for June 16-20 in Vienna, said IAEO spokesman, Behrouz Kamalvandi on Sunday.
Kamalvandi said that the national atomic energy agency will hold consultations with Iranian experts about outcome of recent expert level talks between Iran and the P5+1.
He said the Iranian experts are going to present a report on their recent talks with nuclear experts from the six world nations which he said were centered on Arak heavy water plant, the amount of enrichment and some other issues.
After the expertsˈ report is read, the participants will work together to set the agenda for the fifth round of talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany to bring an end to a decade-old nuclear dispute, according to the spokesman.
He predicted that Vienna talks will be tough and serious since he believed the other side makes every effort not to make any concessions.
On Iranˈs cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency, Kamalvandi said, ˈWe are gradually moving towards reducing ambiguitiesˈ. However he noted that removal of ambiguities will take time as they have been compiled over years.
He said that cooperation with the IAEA helped defuse propaganda campaign against Iran by the western governments over the peaceful nuclear program.
IRNA
R.S