Iran decisive on nuclear talks in January

Iran insists on holding nuclear talks with world powers at the end of January, Fars news agency reported Saturday.

It quoted deputy nuclear negotiator Ali Bagheri as saying the talks had been set for January 28-29 and the six powers should commit to the date.

Fars also said the office of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton informed Baqeri that the sextet was not ready for the talks and proposed a new date in February.

Tehran had opposed Istanbul as venue for the talks and instead proposed Cairo, but Egypt has shown no readiness to host them.

Some observers believe the discussions over date and venue are just pretext and that the main problem is the agenda.

Iran wants acknowledgment of its rights to pursue civil nuclear programmes and the lifting of all international sanctions to be on the agenda.

The grouping of the US, China, Russia, France, Germany and Britain is still resisting that, casting doubt on the prospects for a new round of talks.

The West, led by the United States, has imposed sanctions against Iran, accusing Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran has repeatedly dismissed the Western allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has every right to pursue nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.



/Trend/