Maintaining Iraniansˈ Rights is Iran’s Red Line In Talks, Says Araqchi

Deputy Foreign Minister in Legal and International Affairs Seyed Abbas Araqchi said that Iran‘s red line in the negotiations is Iraniansˈ rights, according to IRNA.

In an interview with IRIB TV Channel 2 on Saturday evening, Araqchi underlined maintaining Iranian nation’s rights, continuation of enrichment, not sending materials outside the country, and maintaining the nature of heavy water in Arak power plant.

He added that we try to reach a final agreement upon our red lines, but if we do not succeed, it would not be a disaster. Geneva agreement is valid until July 21, 2014 and if we reach a final agreement it would be very good and if not we will continue our efforts.

Meanwhile, we do not allow issues to be imposed against us, the senior diplomat continued.

He said that although negotiations are hard, but they move in a right direction, and if the other side has good intention and realism, it is possible to reach a final agreement.

The senior member of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team underlined that no one can limit Iran’s scientific progress in the nuclear field, because science and technology belong to Iran.

Concerning PMD issue ( military use of nuclear energy), Araqchi said that we should make a distinction between country’s defensive programs and the issue of PMD and that the defensive programs are not the issue of negotiation and will not be.

He added that Iran had an agreement with IAEA director general Yukiya Amano, in his visit to Iran last year, that the issue be considered step by step and we gave clear answers to claims they made.

‍Concerning six-month extension of talks, he reminded that the issue needs a new negotiation, but currently none of the sides are interested to think about the issue and if we cannot reach an agreement in the remaining time, we will have a technical dialogue.

Araqchi continued that we have not seen any indication that the other side is not serious in the talks, but we are observing all behaviors with pessimism.

He reminded that Catherine Ashton is responsible for coordination among negotiating countries and when one of the member states opposed with an issue, which happened in Geneva Agreement, Ashton, by creating a coordination between the members states, restarted the talks again after 10 days.

R.S