Iran FM plans to meet EU foreign policy chief in New York
By Sara Rajabova
After the presidential election in Iran, the nuclear talks with the country remain in the spotlight of the international community and pertinent bodies dealing with the issue expressed readiness to launch a new round of negotiations with Tehran.
European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton's spokesman Michael Mann has announced the readiness of P5+1 group of world powers for a new round of talks with Iran, Press TV reported.
He said "we are in touch with the Iranian side and stand ready to resume negotiations as soon as possible."
Ashton represents the P5+1 group comprising five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
Iran and the P5+1 have held several rounds of talks on a range of issues, with the main focus being on Tehran's nuclear energy program.
The two sides wrapped up their latest round of negotiations in April in the Kazakh city of Almaty. An earlier meeting had been held in February.
In a phone conversation with Iran's new Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif last month, Ashton said the group was ready to resume negotiations with Iran as soon as the administration of President Hassan Rouhani appoints the country's negotiating team.
On September 5, the Iranian president officially assigned the Foreign Ministry to deal with the country's nuclear issues with both the UN nuclear watchdog IAEA and the P5+1 group.
The negotiations were previously conducted by Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
Meanwhile, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the nuclear negotiating team has already been assembled, Tasnim news agency reported.
Zarif went on to say that the newly assembled group includes nuclear experts within the country's Foreign Ministry, some of whom have already participated in the previous talks on Iran's nuclear program.
He also noted that he intends to meet Catherine Ashton in New York within the framework of the UN General Assembly meeting, adding that the newly assembled members of Iran's nuclear negotiating team will accompany him.
Zarif said regarding the Iran-P5+1 talks that he will be meeting with the foreign ministers of the P5+1 countries in New York as well.
Besides, China has stressed the need for a peaceful resolution of the West's standoff with Iran over the nuclear issue, reaffirming Beijing's opposition to the use of coercive measures against Tehran.
China's deputy permanent representative to the UN Wang Min said at a Security Council meeting on September 6 that all parties should adhere to the efforts to maintain and promote the process of dialog and to find a negotiated and appropriate settlement to the dispute.
He reiterated that a peaceful solution is the "only correct and viable path" to settle the issue.
China is always opposed to the use or threat of use of force, excessive pressure and new sanction measures against Iran, Wang said.
He added that Beijing will continue to work with all sides involved to seek a diplomatic solution of the issue.
The West suspects Tehran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear weapons capability, but Iran insists it is purely for peaceful purposes. Iran reiterates that its main demand is that its right to uranium enrichment, as stipulated in the NPT, be recognized.