Iran prioritising national dignity, interests in talks with world powers

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that the nation's dignity has always stood atop his agenda, specially in the talks between Tehran and the six major world powers, and urged the western members of the Sextet to respect the Iranian nation's rights. “Nuclear talks are not about nuclear capability. They (talks) are about Iranian integrity and dignity.” Zarif told in an interview with the New Yorkers. “If the other side understands the importance of dignity and integrity to the Iranian people, and grasps the fact that various Iranians—who may never have seen (nuclear facilities at) Natanz or Arak or Fordo—believe that dignity is not up for sale, that their technology and development is not up for sale … then they will be able to reach an understanding with us,” the top Iranian diplomat went on to say. Iran and the six world powers wrapped up their fourth round of talks in Vienna last week. The seven nations have been discussing ways to iron out differences and start drafting a final deal that would end the West’s dispute with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program. Iran and the world powers wrapped up their fourth round of talks in Vienna on May 16. The seven nations have been discussing ways to iron out differences and start drafting a final deal that would end the West’s dispute with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program. Iran said there has been no tangible progress in writing the draft text of the agreement and it blamed the US for the failure, saying Washington has made excessive demands beyond the agreements made in the previous rounds of talks. In November 2013, the two sides signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva that came into force on January 20.