Iran's Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki speaks at a nuclear conference in Tehran March 9, 2008. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)
Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said in Tehran on Sunday that Iran will back the talks with Europe on Iran's nuclear issue if they are "carefully planned" and there are "of practical results".
"We have always supported negotiations that are purposeful, meaningful and effective," MEHER News Agency quoted Mottaki as saying at an international conference on Iran's nuclear program.
On Wednesday, Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad had said that his country would no longer negotiate over its nuclear issue outside the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
The UN Security Council just adopted a new resolution against Iran's nuclear program on Monday, slapping stronger sanctions to press Iran to suspend uranium enrichment activities.
Mottaki said the new round of sanctions lacked "technical and legal" justification and would discredit the Security Council.
Javad Vaidi, deputy head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, said on sidelines of the international conference that encouraging negotiations while using threats simultaneously by five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany is by no means acceptable.
"The time of using the policy of carrot and stick is over," he added, referring to the "dual-track approach" that the foreign ministers of the above mentioned six countries on Monday reaffirmed their commitment.
The United States said it hoped the resolution would make Iran change its behavior, including suspending its uranium enrichment activities. But Vaidi said it will not affect Iran's nuclear activities.
Washington has accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear program. Iran has denied the US charges and insisted that its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only.
(Xinhua News Agency March 10, 2008)
