The spokesman for Iran’s Foreign Ministry said Iran is ready to continue negotiations with the G5+1 on the basis of “the third Geneva package and the Istanbul talks.”
In 2008, the G5+1 proposed that once Iran stops its uranium enrichment, it would be eligible for economic, energy, agricultural, environmental and infrastructural incentives from the international group.
Iran responded with a proposal to include discussion about terrorism, the drug trade and the nuclear activities of other countries. However, the U.S. announced that Iran’s proposal does not address concerns about that country’s nuclear program.
The G5+1 maintains that Iran’s nuclear program may have military goals, a claim that Iran has repeatedly denied, insisting its program is aimed solely at energy production.
Saeed Jalili, Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, wrote to EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton to say Iran is ready to continue “talks for cooperation on common points of interest.”
“The roots of terrorism, drug smuggling, and piracy in open waters, improved cooperation in energy supply and security as well as nuclear disarmament” were the topics of interest indicated in Jalili’s letter.
Ashton responded that Jalili’s letter did not include any new approach that would justify the resumption of nuclear talks.
Ramin Mehmanparast, the Foreign Ministry spokesman, repeated today that Iran’s use of nuclear energy is “completely peaceful.” He added that Iran uses nuclear energy in “energy production, agriculture and industry.”
On May 24, the head of the International Atomic Energy Agency announced that it cannot confirm Iran’s nuclear program is fully peaceful, saying Iran may be secretly trying to develop nuclear weapons.
