TEHRAN, Jan. 29 (MNA) Irans FM spokeswoman has assessed Parliament plans for nuclear negotiators in more positive light as helping the negotiators leverage in nuclear talks.Marzieh Afkham spoke to reporters in her weekly press conference about wide range of issues including nuclear negotiations and the possibility of Putins visit to Tehran.
On a question of the current tensions between the White House and the Congress in the US over putting more sanctions on Iran and Obamas threat to veto the legislation, and whether such level of tension would be imagined between Parliament and Rouhanis government over Parliaments possible retaliation of US Congress sanctions, Afkham said that the government had been in continuous exchange of ideas with the Parliament since the beginning of nuclear negotiations to address criticism by the Parliament mounted on the manner and the content of the negotiations.
Afkham demanded that the 5+1 should take into consideration proposals made by Iranian negotiators in attempts to avoid the deadlock in the negotiations and to address the crux of the negotiations. However, she admitted that negotiations had reached its most difficult part and had been critical as well. The two sides achieved some level of convergence, but more talks are needed to push the negotiations forward, she added.
On Putins possible visit to Tehran, she expressed hopes that Mr. Vladimir Putin of Russia would visit Tehran in due time; the exchange of ambassadors provides a new impetus and capacity in bilateral ties and is indication of improvement in cordial relations; Mr. Putins exact date of visit is yet undecided. It entails much coordination and background diplomatic efforts, Afkham told reporters.
About S-300anti-aircraft and ballistic missile system, we have achieved agreements which would help solve the issue of delivery of the weaponry by Russia; it definitely will be in the agenda of meetings in Tehran, said the spokeswoman.
Afkham rejected remarks by a US senator who demanded that Irans commitment should exceed the Additional Protocol as a matter of US domestic politics; we have explicitly made known that this was a domestic political issue for the US; we believe that sanctions have lost much of its efficacy, and hope that US officials see the issues more realistically, she added.
On a question whether Parliaments nuclear commission plans would offer any help with the negotiation process, Afkham said that Parliaments interest and attempts to participate in the nuclear talks were understandable with the inherent role of the Parliament in defending national security; Parliament attempt to play a role in nuclear negotiations adds to the Islamic Republic of Irans leverage, she said.
Afkham implicitly criticized the remarks by AEOI Ali Akbar Salehi who had said Iran and the 5+1 had come to a deal in Vienna; the negotiation team has waged attempts to avoid bringing many areas of the negotiations still debated to the media, since it would jeopardize the whole negotiation process; however, some parts of negotiations are usually disclosed for officials; to know a story would not mean necessarily to publicize it, and great care must be exercised here, she asserted, believing that any publicizing attempt should be in line with positive contribution to negotiations.
Afkham also avoided details of a story about refurbishing of Arak heavy water complex as the issue was the subject of negotiations, telling the press that no further information would be provided before a final deal.
By Mehr News Agency
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