Iran seeks reciprocal pledges in N talks

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi has underlined the necessity for reciprocal commitments during any nuclear negotiations between Iran and the West, Press TV reported with reference to IRNA.

Salehi made the remark on Wednesday at the end of his two-day visit to the Russian capital of Moscow.

The top Iranian official told reporters that Moscow's "step-by-step" proposal was discussed during the negotiations.

Salehi pointed out that Iran welcomed the general outlines of the proposal but reiterated that the details needed to be examined by experts.

He went on to say that both Iranian and Russian sides emphasized that any commitments made during nuclear talks between Iran and the West needed to be reciprocal.

Salehi further explained that by reciprocal Iran meant that in return for any step taken by a party, the other side must also take a simultaneous reciprocal step.

The top Iranian official added that Iran's nuclear activities were going on as usual but Western countries sought to impede the program by making up unjustifiable excuses.

He said that Russia, however, was seeking to create an atmosphere of confidence building and described Moscow's offer as a good will gesture.

He noted that Iran and Russia shared common views with respect to different regional and international issues and that there was a political convergence between Tehran and Moscow.

Salehi visited Moscow at the invitation of his Russia counterpart Sergei Lavrov. The visit was aimed at establishing sustainable mutual relations and discussing Moscow's "step-by-step" proposal.

Lavrov on July 13 laid out a new "step-by-step" approach that would enable the Islamic Republic to take steps to address questions raised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

According to the proposed plan, Iran can revive negotiations to alleviate individual concerns of the IAEA about its nuclear activities and be rewarded along the way by partial removal of sanctions.


/Trend/