Iran has expressed hope that an upcoming meeting with the six major powers of the P5+1 group would pave the way for a "jump-start” to negotiations to resolve the country’s nuclear issue.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif made the remarks at a press conference after a meeting with his French counterpart Laurent Fabius on the sidelines of the 68th session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Wednesday.
"The Islamic Republic has the political readiness and political will for serious negotiations and we are hopeful that the opposite side has this will as well," Zarif said.
The Iranian foreign minister stated that Tehran expects the talks with the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States, plus Germany -- will be held “with a view to reaching an agreement within the shortest span."
"We (Zarif and Fabius)... had a good discussion about the start of nuclear talks and the talks that will take place tomorrow at the foreign ministerial level between Iran and the P5+1," Zarif added.
The latest round of the talks between Tehran and the six powers was held in the Kazakh city of Almaty on February 26 and 27.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies falsely claim that Iran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with the US and the European Union using the unfounded allegation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on Iran.
Tehran strongly rejects the claim against its nuclear energy program, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
By Press TV
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