News

Latest News

Imprisoning Democracy

Have your say


Newspaper


Back to index

Iran criticizes West's dual approach to nuclear issue

24-12-2012

TEHRAN, (Xinhua): A senior Iranian lawmaker criticized the West's dual approach to the controversial nuclear issue of Iran.

Mehdi Sanaei said that such an approach by the Western countries in the talks over Iran's nuclear program is the "biggest obstacle" to solving the issue, Press TV reported Sunday.

During the talks, "usually positive stances are declared, but at the same time serious negative signals are sent and new sanctions" are imposed against Iran, Sanaei was quoted as saying.

Earlier this month, the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama stepped up the pressure on Iran over its controversial nuclear program by imposing sanctions on seven more entities and five individuals who were accused of providing the Iranian government with "unique goods, technology and services that increase the regime's ability to enrich uranium and to construct a heavy water research reactor."

In the meantime, Western media reported that the Obama administration hinted at the initiation of Iran-U.S. bilateral talks in the following months as a means to find ways to settle the mutual problems and the nuclear issue of the Middle Eastern country.

The "biggest" obstacle to achieving results in the talks is the West's "incorrect" approach, said the Iranian lawmaker, adding that "they (the West) simultaneously use the policy of carrot and stick and the policy of pressure and negotiations."

Sanaei said such contradictions overshadow hopes for achieving positive results in the talks, emphasizing that positive results could be achieved in the talks between the Islamic republic and the UN Security Council's five permanent members -- the United States, Britain, China, France and Russia -- plus Germany, known as P5+1, if the West changes its approach toward Iran.

On Tuesday, Press TV quoted Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi as saying that the United States' claims about seeking negotiations with Iran over its nuclear issue and mutual problems did not go with the Americans' sustained hostility toward Iran.

In response to the continued nuclear activities of Iran, the European Union (EU) on Saturday adopted additional sanctions on one Iranian national and 18 entities including oil, finance and insurance companies said to be involved in or supporting Iran's nuclear activities.

The sanction list also includes the Sharif University of Technology in Tehran which was said to have violated the provisions of UN and EU sanctions against the country.

President of Iran's prestigious Sharif University of Technology Reza Roosta-Azad said Sunday that the inclusion of Sharif University in the recent EU sanctions against the Islamic republic "makes us happier," semi-official Mehr news agency reported.

Roosta-Azad said that "Sharif University has been in the sanctions list for years and these sanctions make us happier," according to the report.

Putting sanctions on Sharif University indicates that its activities have been very effective, he said, adding that the EU sanctions will have no impact on the programs and activities of the university.

Also, Iran's Oil Minister Rostam Qasemi said Sunday that the country has "successfully" bypassed sanctions imposed on its energy sector, according to Press TV.

Sanctions imposed by the United States and European countries were the last-resort tool against the Islamic republic, Qasemi was quoted as saying.

He said that the sanctions pursued a number of objectives, the most important of which was to prevent Iran's presence in the oil market and disrupt its oil deliveries; however, the country managed to deal with the issue successfully.


Editor: yan


http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/world/2012-12/24/c_132058974.htm

Email this story to a friend | Printable Version

 

Latest News


Other News from Middle East section


News and Views of Muslims in the United Kingdom