Iran said it will open talks with the West about its nuclear program, as long as the United States publicly upholds Iran’s right to enrich uranium, a spokesman for the nation’s Foreign Ministry said Tuesday.
The statements, from spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast, come just before world powers are due to meet in Kazakhstan, along with Iran, the Associated Press reports.
“We will offer ways for removing possible concerns and ambiguities to show our good will, if Western countries, especially the U.S., fully recognize the nuclear rights of countries, which shows their good will,” he said in the AP report.
Western nations have been reluctant to say that Iran has a right to continue its nuclear program for enrichment activities. It’s a concession that Tehran has sought for months — international recognition for its uranium enrichment, the AP reports. The West, however, sees Iran’s program as a step toward the development of nuclear weapons, according to the AP report.
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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