TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Defense Minister Brigadier General Hossein Dehqan underlined Tehran's readiness to show more transparency in its nuclear issue, and said the US and other western countries should recognize Iran's rights to enter talks based on equal footing."Our nation is at a level of might that can enter negotiations with full confidence and defend itself in any challenge by the wise and tactful leadership of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution," Dehqan said in Tehran on Wednesday.
Stressing that Iran doesnt pursue talks for the sake of talks, he said, "The hegemonic system headed by the US should recognize the Iranian nation's rights within the framework of the international protocols and agreements and enter negotiations in an equal atmosphere without any imposition and far from the misunderstandings created by the Zionist regime. And if this happens, we will be ready for (more) transparency."
He, meantime, stressed that Iran has experienced the US and its allies' distrustful behavior in the past and is aware that the West is not trustworthy.
Iran said on Tuesday that it wants goal-oriented talks with a specified timeline with the world powers, stressing that pursuing talks for the sake of talks is time consuming and fruitless.
"We have announced that talks for talks is not acceptable (to us) while the negotiations should also have a time limit so that the interests of both sides will be met and in win-win negotiations," Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham told reporters in Tehran.
Asked about the subjects of the Thursday talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his Group 5+1 counterparts in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting, she said, "Our discussions are very clear and the Iranian people's inalienable rights and the right of enrichment on Iranian territory is the main topic of our talks."
"It seems that the (G5+1 and Iranian) foreign ministers will review the previous trend and an agreement has been struck to continue the talks in mid October in Geneva," Afkham said.
Noting that Zarif will represent Iran in the talks with the world powers, she said, "The level of talks can be changed in accordance with the agreements and issues to be raised (during the negotiations)."
The Iranian foreign minister is in New York to take part in the 68th Session of the UN General Assembly, which opened on September 24.
European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton said on Monday Zarif will join the Group 5+1 later this week to discuss Tehran's nuclear program.
"Zarif will join the meeting of G5+1 later this week to discuss Iran's nuclear program," Ashton told reporters after meeting Zarif ahead of this week's UN General Assembly session in New York.
"We talked about a number of important issues that focused on the nuclear issue," said Ashton, adding, "We had a good and constructive discussion."
On Monday, Zarif underlined that his upcoming meetings with the representatives of the world powers, including his meeting with Ashton, herald the start of interactions, adding that a thorough settlement of issues and problems between the two sides needs continued interaction throughout time.
"The field of foreign policy needs sobriety, patience, wisdom and well-assessed and targeted measures and the pile of problems cannot be expected to be resolved by one or some meetings," Zarif wrote in his Facebook page on Monday.
"To reach successful and sustainable solutions, the two sides should be ready for constructive interactions based on equal footing," he added.
By Fars News Agency
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