Iranian FM Downplays Effects of Sanctions

03 July 2014 | 23:45 Code : 1935256 Latest Headlines

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that the western sanctions couldn’t weaken the country's determination to make more progress in different fields, stressing Tehran's decision to end the "unnecessary crisis" over its peaceful nuclear program.

The Iranian top diplomat who is in Vienna to hold the six round of talks with the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany) to reach a final deal for the settlement of the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program, said on Wednesday that Iran is prepared to take solid steps to guarantee that its nuclear program is solely used for peaceful purposes.

The top nuclear negotiator added that Iran remains committed to end the "unnecessary crisis" over its peaceful nuclear program, adding, “To those who continue to believe that sanctions brought Iran to the negotiating table, I can only say that pressure has been tried for the past 8 years, in fact for the past 35 years. It didn’t bring the Iranian people to kneel in submission. And it will not now nor in the future.”

Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) officially started the sixth round of their talks to reach a final deal to settle their dispute over Tehran's nuclear program in Vienna on Thursday morning.

Iran and the Group 5+1 sealed an interim deal in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24, 2013 to pave the way for a full resolution of their decade-old dispute over the former’s nuclear standoff with the West. The deal came into force on January 20.

Under the Geneva deal, dubbed the Joint Plan of Action, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.

Zarif told reporters after the latest round of talks with the six world powers held in Vienna on June 16-20 that although the seven nations have started compiling the draft deal, the harsh stance taken by the western powers, which is reflected in their excessive and maximum demands shows that they are not fully ready to enter serious negotiations to attain a final solution to the decade-old standoff.

He stressed that Iran would not give up its rights, and would continue resistance until restoring all its nuclear rights.