Iran FM to meet six powers this week
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will hold nuclear talks with counterparts from the six major world powers at United Nations this week, EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton says.
“We talked about a number of important issues, but focused on the nuclear issue. We had a good and constructive discussion,” Ashton said after meeting Zarif ahead of this week’s UN General Assembly session in New York.
“I was struck by the energy and determination on the part of the minister,” Ashton said.
She said there will be a “short discussion” at the meeting this week.
Zarif is to join the foreign ministers from Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States in a meeting, expected to be held on Thursday, to discuss the country™s nuclear energy program.
Ashton added, “We have agreed that he and I will meet with our teams in Geneva in October.”
The top Iranian diplomat, who is on a visit to New York, is scheduled to sit down with British Foreign Secretary William Hague later on Monday on the sidelines of the 68th session of the UN General Assembly.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and European Union using the claim as an excuse to impose illegal sanctions against Tehran.
Iran has categorically rejected the allegation, stressing that as a committed member of the International Atomic Energy Agency and a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
In addition, the IAEA has conducted numerous inspections of Iran’s nuclear facilities but has never found any evidence showing that the Iranian nuclear program has been diverted toward military objectives.
PG/HGH
Copyright: Press TV
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