BICOM

Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator yesterday insisted that the international community must accept Tehran’s right to enrich uranium. His comments came as talks were set to resume today in Kazakhstan aimed at finding a diplomatic resolution to calm international fears over Tehran’s nuclear programme.

Speaking at a university in the Kazakh capital Almaty, Saed Jalili who heads the Iranian delegation struck a defiant tone saying, “We think our talks tomorrow can go forward with one word. That is the acceptance of the rights of Iran, particularly the right to enrichment.”

Today’s talks between Iran and the P5+1 powers – United States, UK, China, Russia, France and Germany – are set to continue where they left off during the last round of negotiations in February. P5+1 representatives are thought to have issued a proposal during previous meeting under which sanctions could be eased on Iranian gold and other precious metals. In return, Iran would at least interrupt activities at the nuclear plant at Fordow, where twenty per cent enriched uranium is being produced, considered just a small step from weapons grade material. Technical talks have taken place between the two sides since February in Istanbul, to flesh out the P5+1 proposal.

However, P5+1 officials are hoping for a substantive Iranian response to their suggestions during today’s talks. A senior US administration official was quoted by the US State Department saying that positive noises out of Tehran during the last meeting must “now be matched with some concrete responses and actions on the Iranian side.” The same official emphasised that “the onus is really on Iran to respond to the proposal and tell us where they stand.” However, even if this was forthcoming, the international community would need to “caucus and make an evaluation of whether this is a concrete response.”