Vienna group agrees to Tehran nuclear declaration

TEHRAN, Aug. 13 (MehrNewsAgency) – The Vienna group (the United States, Russia, and France) has accepted the Tehran nuclear declaration as the basis for resuming negotiations over a nuclear fuel exchange deal, a top lawmaker said.
The Vienna group had requested Iran to answer their questions regarding the Tehran declaration and Iran delivered its responses, Alaeddin Boroujerdi, chairman of the Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Committee, told the Mehr News Agency.
Foreign ministers of Iran, Turkey, and Brazil in Tehran signed the Tehran nuclear deal, known as the Tehran Declaration, on May 17. According to the deal Iran would ship 1200 kilograms of its low-enriched uranium to Turkey to be exchanged for 120 kilograms of 20 percent enriched nuclear fuel rods to power the Tehran research reactor, which produces radioisotopes for cancer treatment
. Boroujerdi said now the Vienna group should take steps to for a nuclear fuel exchange. He said that Brazil and Turkey should also participate in the Vienna group’s talks, since the two countries and Iran are the architects of the Tehran nuclear deal.
However, Boroujerdi stated that Brazil and Turkey would not be present at the negotiating table between 5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, and China, plus Germany) and Iran, as these talks broach a different subject. Previously, Turkey and Brazil had asked to participate in negotiations between Iran and the group 5+1, but the group refused their request  

Iran’s FM Holds Intense Diplomatic Consultations in Syria

TEHRAN (FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki met with several senior Syrian officials in Damascus on Wednesday and exchanged views over bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues Mottaki and his accompanying delegation arrived in the Syrian capital on Wednesday and were welcomed by Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Ahmad Arnous and Iranian Ambassador to Syria Seyed Ahmad Mousavi.
The Iranian foreign minister later met with his Syrian counterpart Walid Muallem, where he reminded the ongoing siege of Gaza and the other crimes committed by the illegitimate Zionist regime against the Palestinians, and asked for international efforts to end the Gaza blockade.
He said that Iran seeks integrity and consultations among the regional states to help establish stability and security in the region, specially in Lebanon, Iraq and Afghanistan. 

Later in the day, the Iranian minister met with Syrian Vice-President Farouk al-Shara, where he underlined the necessity for the Muslim states to enhance integrity and boost their activities to defuse the plots hatched by the enemies.
The two sides also underlined the abundant capacities of the two countries, and agreed to put implementation of major economic projects on their agenda. 

Earlier, Mottaki held a meeting with the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and conveyed Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad’s invitation to his Syrian counterpart to pay a visit to Tehran in the near future.
Also during the meeting with Assad, Mottaki pointed to the strategic ties between Iran and Syria, and stressed the necessity for the two states to take wider strides to bolster their mutual cooperation, given the huge projects already defined for the two countries’ joint economic cooperation
. 

During the meeting, Assad described relations between Tehran and Syria as strategic, and underlined that expansion of bilateral ties is important for maintaining regional security. 

Also during the meeting, the two sides discussed the status quo in the region and the threats posed by the Zionist regime to the security of the region. 

The two officials further viewed the Muslim countries’ moves against enemies’ plots as "a positive and effective step".
  
Cleric: West Unfamiliar with Iranian Nation

TEHRAN (FNA)- The western countries’ insistence on the sanctions policy shows their unfamiliarity with the Iranian nation, Tehran’s provisional Friday Prayers Leader Ayatollah Ahmad Jannati said, and stressed that Iranians will never succumb to pressures.

"They think the Iranian people will give in under sanctions and adversities…but the West’s problem is that they do not know the Iranian nation and do not know who they are dealing with," Ayatollah Jannati said, addressing a large and fervent congregation of people on Tehran University campus, Ayatollah Jannati 

Elsewhere, Ayatollah Jannati cautioned Iranian officials about the US green light for talks with Iran, and said, "You have forgotten what they (Americans) have done, you think they have changed… they are the same…" 

"When they flash a green light it is [always] chicanery and a scam," Ayatollah Jannati cautioned. 

Ayatollah Jannati, who is also secretary of the Guardians Council, added that Iranians know that wherever the US insists on doing something it is harmful for them and wherever it wants something not to be done it is in their interest. 

"The nation and the officials should be vigilant in a bid to make the sanctions ineffective," he said.

India, Iran express desire to sign BIPA 


New Delhi, Aug 14, (IRNA) - India and Iran have expressed desire to sign the Bilateral Investment Promotion and Protection agreement (BIPA) post completion of legal formalities.