Over 4.1 million gather at Grand Mosque on 29th night of Ramadan    Myanmar earthquake death toll climbs to 144    Zelenskyy says new US draft minerals deal 'significantly differs,' rules out treating aid as a loan    Sudanese army says it has cleared final RSF positions in Khartoum    Trump renews push to acquire Greenland    Interior minister visits Grand Mosque operations center    Saudi Arabia prepares over 19,000 mosques and open-air prayer grounds for Eid Al-Fitr prayers    Reef Saudi bazaar celebrates rural heritage with traditional crafts and strong public turnout    World's largest barbershop opens at Clock Towers Center in Makkah to serve pilgrims    Saudi non-oil exports jump 10.7% in January    Saudi creatives shine at Jeddah's Fawanees Nights with art, fashion, and storytelling    OMODA&JAECOO Accelerate Global Expansion JAECOO J8 records strong first month orders in Saudi Arabia, J5 prepares for launch    LOT - The Value Shop makes its grand debut in Hafar Al-Batin    100 Thieves claim Marvel Rivals Invitational NA crown as 2025 scene heats up    T1 CEO confirms Gumayusi's return for LCK Spring after lineup shakeup    Bollywood actress vindicated over boyfriend's death after media hounding    Saudi Arabia hold Japan to goalless draw in Saitama to stay in World Cup hunt    Disney's Snow White film tops box office despite bad reviews    NewJeans announces hiatus after setback in court battle    George Foreman, heavyweight champion and cultural icon, dies at 76    Court rules against K-pop group NewJeans in record label dispute    Grand Mufti rules against posting prayers and preaching in mosques on social media    King Salman prays for peace and stability for Palestinians in Ramadan message King reaffirms Saudi Arabia's commitment to serving the Two Holy Mosques and pilgrims    Bollywood star Saif Ali Khan 'out of danger' after attack at home in Mumbai    Exotic Taif Roses Simulation Performed at Taif Rose Festival    Asian shares mixed Tuesday    Weather Forecast for Tuesday    Saudi Tourism Authority Participates in Arabian Travel Market Exhibition in Dubai    Minister of Industry Announces 50 Investment Opportunities Worth over SAR 96 Billion in Machinery, Equipment Sector    HRH Crown Prince Offers Condolences to Crown Prince of Kuwait on Death of Sheikh Fawaz Salman Abdullah Al-Ali Al-Malek Al-Sabah    HRH Crown Prince Congratulates Santiago Peña on Winning Presidential Election in Paraguay    SDAIA Launches 1st Phase of 'Elevate Program' to Train 1,000 Women on Data, AI    41 Saudi Citizens and 171 Others from Brotherly and Friendly Countries Arrive in Saudi Arabia from Sudan    Saudi Arabia Hosts 1st Meeting of Arab Authorities Controlling Medicines    General Directorate of Narcotics Control Foils Attempt to Smuggle over 5 Million Amphetamine Pills    NAVI Javelins Crowned as Champions of Women's Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) Competitions    Saudi Karate Team Wins Four Medals in World Youth League Championship    Third Edition of FIFA Forward Program Kicks off in Riyadh    Evacuated from Sudan, 187 Nationals from Several Countries Arrive in Jeddah    SPA Documents Thajjud Prayer at Prophet's Mosque in Madinah    SFDA Recommends to Test Blood Sugar at Home Two or Three Hours after Meals    SFDA Offers Various Recommendations for Safe Food Frying    SFDA Provides Five Tips for Using Home Blood Pressure Monitor    SFDA: Instant Soup Contains Large Amounts of Salt    Mawani: New shipping service to connect Jubail Commercial Port to 11 global ports    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques Delivers Speech to Pilgrims, Citizens, Residents and Muslims around the World    Sheikh Al-Issa in Arafah's Sermon: Allaah Blessed You by Making It Easy for You to Carry out This Obligation. Thus, Ensure Following the Guidance of Your Prophet    Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques addresses citizens and all Muslims on the occasion of the Holy month of Ramadan    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Iran Foreign Ministry to handle nuclear talks
Published in The Saudi Gazette on 21 - 08 - 2013

TEHRAN — An Iranian diplomatic official said Tuesday that the country's foreign minister will lead nuclear talks with world powers, taking over from the country's national security council.
Since the election of centrist Hasan Rohani as president in June, Iran says it is taking a new approach to negotiations with a six-nation group — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany.
Iranian officials say they'll abandon the bombastic language used under Rohani's predecessor, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. But they also say Iran will continue its disputed nuclear activities.
“The nuclear dossier has been transferred to the Foreign Ministry,” the official said. He said Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, a Western-educated veteran diplomat, will be top nuclear negotiator. The move is seen as transferring the nuclear file to professional diplomats rather than security-minded figures at the Supreme National Security Council.
The official spoke anonymously as he wasn't authorized to speak publicly on the issue.
The West says Iran is pursuing weapons technology. Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes.
Rohani, who won a landslide in June 14 presidential elections, has vowed to pursue a “policy of moderation” and ease tensions with the outside world.
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has ultimate authority on all matters of state, also appears to have given his blessing to a more diplomatic approach to the West.
Ali Akbar Velayati, a top adviser to Khamenei, told The Associated Press earlier this week that Iran needed to “talk with a different language.”
He added however that Iran will not again suspend enrichment because Tehran had a bitter experience when it did so in 2003 as a confidence-building measure.
The European Union's foreign policy chief has said says she will “soon” meet Zarif amid the need for swift and substantial talks over the nuclear program. Catherine Ashton's office said she called the minister on Saturday to congratulate him on his appointment.
Zarif has said he welcomed resumption of talks but called for “purposeful and time-limited” negotiations.
“Dr. Zarif is now in the process of selecting his negotiating team before preparing for talks with the six-nation group,” the official said.
Zarif did postgraduate studies at San Francisco State University and obtained a doctorate in international law and policy at the University of Denver. Zarif also raised his profile in the US as a diplomat at Iran's UN Mission in New York during a five-year posting that ended in 2007.
Rohani hopes Zarif's expertise and years of experience in dealing with Americans as Iran's top U.N. envoy will help his government understand the American way of thinking. Zarif worked with Rohani back when the president was Iran's top nuclear negotiator from 2003 to 2005.
He has also said he wants higher officials — in particular foreign ministers — from the six-member group to talk to Iran. – AP


Clic here to read the story from its source.