Iran, Group 5+1 packages have common grounds, ambassador

19 June 2008

Moscow-Iranian Ambassador to Moscow Gholamreza Ansari said on Thursday that there are common grounds between the Iranian package and that of Group 5+1 presented by the European Union foreign policy and security chief Javier Solana.

Making the remark in a meeting with a number of Russian experts of the Orient Studies Institute of Russia, Ansari explained the package diplomacy underway between Iran and the Western governments saying that the diplomacy has been successful in light of the common grounds the packages from the two parties envisaged for settlement of the dispute over Iran's nuclear program.

Iran expects 5+1 to respond to the Iranian package of proposals for resolving regional and international issues, then, Tehran would reply to the European package, he noted.

Pointing to the recent threats of certain American and British officials against Iran, he said that such stance will bring about firm response and determination of the Iranian nation to deal with the US pressures more than ever.

"Iranians never retreat from their principles even when the US and the Western governments exerted pressures on Iran and threatened the Islamic country over the 30 years," he added.

"Iran abide by all its commitments on peaceful nuclear activities," he said, noting that the recent documents on the nature of Iran's nuclear program are counterfeit and artificial although Tehran responded to the question of western powers.

He further said that the International Atomic Energy Agency has verified that Iran's nuclear program is for peaceful purposes, and that there is no sign of diversion in the peaceful trend.

Asked about suspension of Iran-US talks on the Iraqi security, he replied that the US and President Bush unfortunately misused Iranians' efforts for restoring tranquility in Iraq to put an end to bloodshed and Iran is critical of the US military operations to crack down on the Iraqi people, particularly the Shia population.

He criticized the US administration for attributing the current tranquility in Iraq to its own military operations against the Iraqi people and said that Tehran evaluate the situation improper for continuing Iran-US talks on Iraq's security.

He further ruled out Bush's remarks on Iran's role in Iraq, Afghanistan and the region, adding that if Tehran had refrained from cooperating with other sides for restoring security and stability to the countries, the US would have endured more dilemmas.