The US does not plan to consider lifting anti-Iranian sanctions, despite negotiations with six mediators in Istanbul, spokesman of the US State Department Mark Toner said. He warned against hasty expectations from the meeting in Baghdad in May.
The European Union has rejected proposals of Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi to lift sanctions in exchange for progress in negotiations on the nuclear program, Danish Foreign Minister Villy Sovndal said. He added that Iran has not proven itself as a reliable partner.
Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, headed the six mediators at the Istanbul meeting. The next round of talks was set for May 23 in Baghdad.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov confirmed that the six mediators recognize Iran’s right for use of peaceful nuclear energy.
Iran is opposed to nuclear non-proliferation, Salehi said. He noted that Iran will not have a dialogue with the US, because Supreme Leader Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei is the only official authorized for such dialogue.
Rajab Safarov, Director General of the Center for Studies of Modern Iran, said that the main achievement of the Istanbul meeting is that Israel is no longer a threat for Iran.
The six mediators (Russia, China, US, France, UK and Germany) and the IAEA have been trying to persuade Iran to stop uranium enrichment since 2003, saying that the process threatens the nuclear non-proliferation regime.
The US and a set of other Western states accuse Iran of developing nuclear arms on the background of peaceful atom. Tehran denies all accusations and insists that the nuclear program is to fulfill demands for electricity.
Four resolutions of the UN Security Council were passed against Iran.
