Iran hails EU chief's call for resumption of nuclear talks
By Sara Rajabova
Iran has hailed the EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton's statement for a resumption of talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group over its disputed nuclear program, Fars News Agency reported.
"The new negotiation team will be appointed by the country's next administration, headed by president-elect Hassan Rohani. Once the members are assigned, Iran would be ready to resume negotiations with other parties," Iran's foreign ministry spokesman Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said.
Araqchi's remarks came a day after the EU foreign policy chief met with representatives of the P5+1 in Brussels.
Catherine Ashton expressed hope for a resumption of talks with Iran as soon as possible.
Ashton also said that the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany are waiting for Iran to nominate a team of negotiators after its latest presidential election won by Rouhani.
Meanwhile, Russia has called for "a new full-fledged" round of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers soon after the inauguration of Iran's new president Rohani.
Russian Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Pyotr Ilyichov said that a considerable resource for attaining first decisions at the talks has already been accumulated, reaffirming Russia's stance on resolving the Iranian nuclear issue through diplomatic channels.
Iran and the P5+1 group of world powers - the US, China, France, Britain, and Russia plus Germany - have held several rounds of talks on the Iranian nuclear energy program.
The last round of official talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group was held in Kazakhstan.
The West suspects Tehran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear weapons capability, but Iran insists it is purely for peaceful purposes.
Tehran strongly rejects the allegation over its nuclear energy activities, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.