Iran Needs Guarantees on West’s Commitment to Possible Nuclear Deal: Spokeswoman

Local Editor

(Tasnim) – Iran’s Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Marziyeh Afkham underlined there should be assurances that the West will remain committed to a deal likely to be achieved in the nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers.

“The ongoing nuclear negotiations are in sensitive stages,” Afkham said in an interview with Lebanon’s Al Ahd news website, adding “We should make sure that the West will remain committed to a possible agreement.”

Asked about Iran’s view of a “good nuclear deal” with the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany), Afkham said a good deal from the Islamic Republic’s viewpoint is one that leads to the lifting of all of the “cruel and illegal sanctions” imposed on the country and respects Iran’s right, as a member of Non-proliferation Treaty (NPT), to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Her remarks about the need for guarantees come after a group of 47 Republican senators sent an open letter to the Iranian government last week, warning Tehran that any nuclear deal it signs with US President Barack Obama’s administration will not last after Obama leaves office.

In the meantime, representatives from Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3) are in talks to hammer out a final agreement to end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran’s civilian nuclear activities.

The latest round of the diplomatic negotiations started in the Swiss city of Lausanne on March 15 and is expected to run until Sunday, March 22.