12 April 2009

Iran Lays Out Framework for Nuclear Negotiations

From presstv: Iran says future nuclear negotiations are possible only if they are conducted within the framework of the Parliament (Majlis) resolutions.

"The P5+1's proposal concerning the increase of supervision over Iran's nuclear work that has been discussed by some members of the sextet will have no legal place," Iran's Parliament Speaker Ali Larijani told lawmakers on Sunday.

Larijani made the remarks following a joint statement issued on Wednesday by Washington, Beijing and the European Union which stressed resumption of negotiations with Iran as a solution to the standoff over the country's nuclear program.

The Iranian official reiterated that the parliament would exercise supervision over the country's upcoming nuclear negotiations and would only authorize those talks which will be held within the legislative body's framework.

Also known as the E3+3, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1), urged Iran to "engage seriously... in a spirit of mutual respect."

"Now that the P5+1 has no justification to deny Iran's nuclear advances, the future talks should be conducted in accordance with the nuclear Non-proliferation Treaty's (NPT) rules and regulations," Larijani stressed.

"We recognize once again that Iran has the right to a civilian nuclear program, but with that comes the responsibility to restore confidence in the exclusively peaceful nature of its nuclear activities," the P5+1 statement suggested.