Alwaght-A senior Iranian official says the recent rounds of talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of global powers over Tehran’s nuclear program have proved the rightfulness of Iran's nuclear demands, as Press TV reported.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran demands [to conduct] necessary [nuclear] activities within the framework of international regulations, particularly the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty),” Ali Akbar Velayati, a senior advisor to Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei, said in Tehran on Sunday in a meeting with Italy’s Foreign Minister Paolo Gentiloni .
Noting that Iran seeks nothing beyond its legal nuclear rights, Velayati said nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 countries had the advantage of convincing public opinion in the world that Iran “has no intention but peaceful use of nuclear energy, which is the right of every nation .”
Iran and the P5+one countries -- Britain, France, China, Russia, and the United States plus Germany – are attempting to narrow their differences on the outstanding issues related to Tehran's nuclear program .
In an attempt to bridge their differences ahead of a key July 1 deadline for reaching a comprehensive deal, representatives from Iran and the United States held 3 rounds of talks in the Swiss city of Geneva on February 22 and 23 .
Both top Iranian and US diplomats said some progress was made toward a final deal .
Political directors from Iran and the P5+1 group’s foreign ministries will hold a fresh round of talks in Montreux, Switzerland, on March 5 .
A series of bilateral meetings will be also held prior to the planned high-level talks between negotiators from Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany .
Italy’s stance on Iranian nuclear issue
The Italian foreign minister, for his part, expressed hope that Iran and the P5+1 countries would achieve satisfactory results from the ongoing nuclear talks in order to pave the way for enhanced economic relations .
He added that Iran and Italy have maintained strong ties despite difficulties, noting that the two countries’ officials are making efforts to improve relations .
