Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif[/caption]TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif downplayed effectiveness of the western powers' pressures on Iran to halt the country's nuclear progress, and said Tehran is experienced in turning sanctions into new opportunities.
The measures that the US and Europe have so far taken to stop Irans (nuclear) activities have had no result but progress in the countrys nuclear technology, Zarif said on Monday.
He added that Irans nuclear know-how and capabilities cannot be exposed to limitations.
Pointing to the West's standoff with Iran over the country's nuclear energy program, the Iranian minister added, Depriving Iran of (its) nuclear energy program cannot be a solution to the issue because Iran has achieved the nuclear know-how and technology.
He said the regional countries whose interests are served by the prolongation of the nuclear dispute have fueled "the fabricated crisis" to cover up their own short-term strategic goals in the region.
Zarif called on the countries with which Iran is engaged in nuclear negotiations to accept the realities about Irans nuclear energy program.
The 7th round of talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) was held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting last month.
The two sides had also had six rounds of negotiations in Vienna to reach a comprehensive deal after they inked an interim agreement in Geneva on November 24.
The Geneva agreement took effect on January 20 and expired six months later on July 20. In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations till November 24 after they failed to reach an agreement on a number of key issues.
Last week, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi described the trend of the nuclear talks between Tehran and the G5+1 as positive, but meantime stressed that differences still remain in place.
By Fars News Agency
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