Iran will only support ‘fair’ nuclear deal: FM
BY Agencies28 April 2014 5:56 AM IST
Agencies28 April 2014 5:56 AM IST
Tehran: Iran’s foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said that the majority of Iranians would support a comprehensive nuclear deal that ‘respects Iran’s rights and the demands of the people.’
‘That would be the only agreement that myself and President (Hassan) Rouhani will agree (to),’ Zarif said during a joint news conference in Tehran with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz.
When asked whether hardliners could derail the nuclear talks, Zarif said: ‘ Iran is not a monolith ... we will have those who will not favour an agreement, but at the end of the day what will count is the view of the majority of the Iranian people.’ In November, Iran clinched a deal with world powers under which it froze some nuclear activities in return for limited relief from crippling international sanctions. Tehran has been engaged in negotiations with the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany -- aimed at reaching a lasting accord on its nuclear ambitions.
Western nations and Israel have long suspected Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons capability alongside its civilian programme, charges denied by Tehran. Any final deal with the West may involve Iran slashing its number of centrifuges, changing the design of a new reactor at Arak.
‘That would be the only agreement that myself and President (Hassan) Rouhani will agree (to),’ Zarif said during a joint news conference in Tehran with his Austrian counterpart Sebastian Kurz.
When asked whether hardliners could derail the nuclear talks, Zarif said: ‘ Iran is not a monolith ... we will have those who will not favour an agreement, but at the end of the day what will count is the view of the majority of the Iranian people.’ In November, Iran clinched a deal with world powers under which it froze some nuclear activities in return for limited relief from crippling international sanctions. Tehran has been engaged in negotiations with the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany -- aimed at reaching a lasting accord on its nuclear ambitions.
Western nations and Israel have long suspected Iran of pursuing a nuclear weapons capability alongside its civilian programme, charges denied by Tehran. Any final deal with the West may involve Iran slashing its number of centrifuges, changing the design of a new reactor at Arak.
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