Iran's judiciary chief: Doors open for rational nuclear talks

Iran's Judiciary Chief Ayatollah Sadeq Amoli Larijani lauded Tehran's rational and principled stance in the recent talks with the six world powers in Almaty, and stated that doors are open for talks if the western side adopts a rational stance and avoids policy of pressure.Addressing judiciary officials here in Tehran on Wednesday, Ayatollah Larijani said Iran's team of negotiators has adopted "very good and strong" stance during talks in Almaty, and that the proposals made by Iran were "logical and based on principles".He rejected the western media allegations that Iran has opposed all the proposals raised by the western sides, and stated, "The way the westerners behave shows that they want to put more pressure on Iran while Iran's negotiating team has offered them very positive and logical proposals."Yet, "the doors are open for rational negotiations and logical nuclear talks and we hope that the western countries adopt a rational stance," Ayatollah Larijani underlined.Ayatollah Larijani further noted that the Iranian nation will not retreat from its nuclear rights regardless of the sanctions and pressures imposed on the country by the West.After two days of talks between Iran and the sextet, Iran's lead negotiator Saeed Jalili described the latest round of talks with the world powers in Kazakhstan as "good", and said the two sides still need to work out solutions to narrow down their gap.We presented a comprehensive plan 10 months ago and Iran presented its plan of action for the Moscow proposals in this round. This plan of action was a revised version of the proposal that the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) presented in Almaty 1 (on February 26-27) and contained the considerations raised during the experts meeting (in Istanbul from March 17 to 18)," Jalili told reporters after four rounds of talks with the representatives of the six world powers on Friday and Saturday."A part of these initiatives of ours came in response to the 5+1's Almaty 1 proposals which had the capacity for change (to move) ahead," he added.He said that the two sides had detailed discussions over the operational aspects of Iran's proposal, and that his team provided detailed answers to the world powers' ambiguities and questions.Yet, the Iranian chief negotiator said "the two sides' views are away from each other".Jalili reiterated Iran's legitimate rights, including the right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes, and underlined that Iran welcomes talks for cooperation.He urged the six world powers to build Iran's confidence, and said that "recognition of the enrichment right (of Iran) and putting an end to hostile behaviors towards the Iranian nation" are the way to build Tehran's confidence.In this regard, he said, the 5+1 representatives raised their government's views and asked for further assessment of Iran's new initiatives."Mr. Ashton is due to meet the foreign ministers of the 6 countries to discuss how the trend of the talks should be moved ahead and will then have a phone contact with me," Jalili added.He said "the talks were good" and described Iran's new proposals as a test of the world powers' honesty about confidence building.