By IRNA
Beijing : Iran’s top nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili said here Friday that as an NPT signatory, Iran will under no conditions back down its absolute rights.
“The Islamic Republic of Iran is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and will under no condition give up its undeniable rights,” Jalili told a member of China’s State Council Tang Jiaxuan, while stressing Iran’s firm resolve to continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency.
Jalili said, “We consider ourselves committed to cooperate with the IAEA within framework of Safeguards but will not come short in regaining our rights.”
He hoped that remaining problems with Iran’s nuclear issue would be settled as soon as possible as the IAEA Chief Mohammed ElBaradei visited Iran recently to the same effect.
He also hoped that ElBaradei’s Iran report to the IAEA Board of Governors will be positive and help solve the country’s nuclear problem as soon as possible.
He said ElBaradei had during his recent visit to Tehran voiced pleasure over positive progress in the Iran-IAEA cooperation.
“Presently proper ground is available for settlement of Iran’s nuclear problem and the country has taken many confidence-building measures too for cooperation with the IAEA. We hope Iran’s case will return to the IAEA regarding removal of ambiguities,” said the Iranian official.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Jalili said Tehran is determined to further speed up implementation of mutual accords as Iranian and Chinese presidents have emphasized it.
Tang said in return, “Our approach to relations with Iran is a long-term and strategic one. China has always been supporting peaceful settlement of Iran’s nuclear problem.”
He stressed resumption of talks to solve the remaining problems with Iran’s nuclear issue.
“We should seize the opportunity. China has always been seeking peaceful settlement of Iran’s nuclear problem,” he added.
Pointing to the dlrs 20 billion volume of commercial transactions between Iran and China, Tang said both countries are in need of bolstering ties and ample grounds exist for the same purpose.