Hamid Baeidinejad (pic) heads Irans expert-level nuclear negotiating team.[/caption]On the eve of renewed nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 Powers, the Islamic Republics media are playing up hope of a comprehensive agreement.
Press TV features theremarks of Iranian negotiator Hamid Baidinezhadabout three days of technical discussions which ended in Vienna on Saturday: A series of topicswere discussedwhich incorporated different aspects of various issues.
The expert talks precede the resumption of high-level discussions on Monday, the third round since February on a final deal.
In November, Iran and the 5+1 (US, UK, Britain, France, Russia, Germany, and China) signed an interim accord on Tehrans enrichment of uranium and US-led sanctions. The two sides are hoping for a comprehensive deal before the expiry of the interim measures in July.
On Saturday, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkhamcriticized US hardlinerswhom she said were trying to block progress:
Threats and pressure against the Iranian nation has no influence. Only negotiation based on mutual respect and recognition of the absolute rights of the Iranian nation would yield results.
However, Irans own hardliners will present a challenge to the talks on Sunday. A group of MPs, angered by aEuropean Parliament resolutionexpressing grave concern over human rights in the Islamic Republic, aretabling a motioncalling for the negotiations to be suspended if there is no serious reaction to the European measure.
Iranian Parliament Threatens Sanctions Against Europe Over Human Rights Resolution
Continuing Tehrans denunciation of a European Parliament resolution highlighting human rights in the Islamic Republic, Iranian lawmakershave threatened sanctionsagainst European countries.
MPs have put out an eight-paragraph plan of retaliatory measures, calling on the Government to reconsider political and economic relations with European countries who voted for Thursdays resolution.
The European resolution expressed grave concern over the human rights situation in Iran and the continued, systemic violation of fundamental rights in the country, and called on the members of the European Union to mainstream human rights in all of its relations with Iran.
The bill in the Iranian Majlis responds by mandating that no European Parliament office can be opened in Iran. No official or delegation from European countries can meet an Iranian representative without prior consent and legal permission.
The legislators are also threatening a cut-off of cooperation with the UN Human Rights Commission and reconsideration of Iranian measures against the transit of narcotics through Iran to Europe.
Speaker of Parliament Ali Larijani said on Saturday that the imprudent European resolution was a cheap work which indicates the lack of and the wrong understanding of these people.
By EA WorldViews
The Iran Project is not responsible for the content of quoted articles.
