24 Dec 2024
Wednesday 25 September 2013 - 15:51
Story Code : 53005

Top advisor calls revomal of sanctions as prelude to US-Iran rapprochement

TEHRAN (FNA)- Senior Advisor to the Iranian Parliament Speaker Hossein Sheikholeslam called on the US officials to take practical measures to build Tehran's confidence, and said the first step towards talks should be the removal of all sanctions.


"The US should adopt practical measures vis a vis the Islamic Republic and therefore, we should wait and see what they will do in practice since speaking beautiful words doesnt mean beautiful actions," Sheikholeslam told FNA on Wednesday.

"The US should cancel its illegal acts which run counter to the UN Charter, including the sanctions, and show its good will since the US itself knows very well that the sanctions pressure the Iranian nation and not the government," he added.

Sheikholeslam underlined that Iran's nuclear case which is a technical issue should return to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from the UN Security Council since the anti-Iran resolutions approved at the UNSC are the most important obstacle to the settlement of Iran's nuclear case.

In relevant remarks today, a senior Iranian legislator said before speaking about talks with Tehran, Washington should account for its long-term animosity towards the Iranian nation and do more to win Iran's trust.

"The Iranian nation will never withdraw from its principles but if the US is ready to discuss practical policies and minor issues and the issues which are not related to the principles with a new tactic, we also announce our readiness (for talks)," Esmayeel Kosari told FNA on Wednesday.

Stressing that the US statesmen should account for their 60-year-long hostilities against the Iranian nation, he said, "If the US leaders truly seek to settle the problems, they should remove all sanctions against the Iranian nation as a first step."

Kosari underlined that freeing the Islamic Republic of Iran's frozen capitals and returning Tehran's nuclear case from the UN Security Council to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will be the next two steps that the US should take to build Iranians' trust.

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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