Luxembourg FM Optimistic about Talks over Iran's N, Issue
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn expressed the hope that the nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers would produce a final solution and result in an end to sanctions imposed on Tehran.
“I hope that Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as the country's top negotiator will be able to lead the talks to a final result and that all sanctions (against Iran) will be lifted,” Asselborn said during a joint press conference with his Iranian counterpart in Tehran on Tuesday.
Pointing to Iran’s compliance with its obligations, especially on the issue of uranium enrichment, he said, “We are hopeful and optimistic that the European Union will also fulfill its pledges.”
Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) concluded the latest round of the nuclear negotiations in Vienna on May 16.
The two sides are slated to convene the next meeting from June 16 to 20, again in the Austrian capital, in order to draft a comprehensive deal to resolve the decade-long standoff over Tehran's nuclear energy program.
Also during the press conference, Zarif said he had held good talks with Asselborn on various issues, including Tehran’s nuclear program, human rights and grounds for further cooperation between the two countries.
The Iranian foreign minister also described Tehran-Luxembourg relations as age-old, expressing the hope that bilateral ties will be promoted in the future.
Elsewhere in his remarks, Zarif accused the West of applying double-standard policies when it comes to the issue of human rights.
The Iranian minister said human rights should not be considered as a tool, and called on all sides to avoid selective attitude towards the issue of human rights.
"Human rights are a set of interconnected issues, therefore if people of a country cannot afford medicine, it would be serious and systematic violation of human rights."
