By DPA
Rome : European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana said his talks with Iranian negotiators were “constructive” but sanctions against Iran would continue until an agreement to resolve the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear programme was reached.
Solana made the remarks during a joint news conference here Tuesday with Iran’s outgoing chief nuclear negotiator, Ali Larijani, and his recently announced replacement, Saied Jalili.
Larijani said “discussions were clear and transparent” and progress had been made.
“We will take this progress with us in the process of resolving the nuclear dossier negotiations with the agency,” Larijani said, referring to the UN nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
At this stage Solana intervened, saying, “As you know the sanctions will be stopped when the agreement is reached”.
Solana also praised Larijani, whose departure is believed to have been prompted by personal differences with Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
“I have been working for the last period of time with Dr. Larijani and I hope very much I can continue having the possibility of working with him,” Solana said.
Larijani denied what he described as Western media “euphoria” in speculating that his departure was prompted by a fallout with Ahmadinejad and said he would continue having a role in the nuclear negotiations as a representative of Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei.
“The point is that our country is a democratic country and there is a rotation and circulation of the forces and power,” Larijani said.
Earlier Tuesday, Ahmadinejad reiterated on state television Iran’s uncompromising stance in the nuclear dispute and said although the Islamic state was in favour of negotiations, it would not retreat from its right to pursue nuclear technology, including uranium enrichment.
“Maintaining a position of principle does not mean we cannot negotiate,” Larijani said, commenting on the president’s remarks.
Jalili, who only spoke near the end of the news conference, praised Larijani’s work and said Iran continued to believe in dialogue and cooperation.
Tuesday’s talks with Solana were seen as one more attempt by Iran to stave off increased international isolation related to its controversial nuclear programme, before the UN Security Council takes up a possible escalation of sanctions in November.
In August, Iran reached an agreement with the IAEA by which all technical ambiguities related to the nuclear programme would be resolved.
Iran insists its nuclear programme is meant only for peaceful purposes but many Western nations suspect Tehran is developing nuclear weapons.