Iran hopes resume nuclear talks

TEHRAN - Iran's chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili has expressed hope that six world powers, dubbed the P5+1, will resume nuclear talks with the Islamic republic soon, Press TV reported on Thursday.

"The Islamic republic of Iran hopes that the P5+1 will return to the negotiating table at the earliest," Jalili was quoted as saying in a meeting with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Tehran on Wednesday.

Jalili, who is also secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), expressed hope that the P5+1 will present a response recognizing the country's nuclear energy rights.

The United States and its Western allies have been accusing Iran of secretly developing nuclear weapons under a civilian disguise, a charge that has always been denied by Tehran.

Jalili further pointed out the "constructive" interaction between Tehran and Moscow on various issues, and said the expansion of strategic cooperation between the two sides will serve mutual interests.

Ryabkov, for his part, welcomed improved bilateral cooperation with Iran in political, economic and strategic fields, and emphasized Iran's right to use nuclear energy for peaceful purposes in line with the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), according to the report.

Earlier this month, Press TV reported that top negotiators from the P5+1 were scheduled to meet in Brussels on Nov 21 to discuss Iran's nuclear issue.

The Brussels meeting will be a prelude to the possible resumption of talks between Iran and the P5+1 early next year, said the report.

Iran and the P5+1, the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany, did not sign any agreement during intensive talks in Moscow on June 18-19, but agreed to meet again in Turkey's Istanbul in July at the expert level.

According to Ali Baqeri, Iran's deputy nuclear negotiator, the talks with the deputy head of the EU's foreign relations in Istanbul in July were "positive". However, no date and venue were set for further high-level negotiations.