Iran talks ‘chance to test US sincerity’

The upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and six world powers will give Iran a chance to test the sincerity of Western governments, particularly the United States, vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic, an analyst says, Press TV reports.

In a column for Press TV, Kaveh L. Afrasiabi referred to the new round of talks scheduled to be held in Geneva on October 15 and 16 between Iran and six major world powers – Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany – and said, during the negotiations, œthe US and its Western allies have a new opportunity to prove their constructive intentions toward Iran and the barometer to gauge that is indeed none other than their willingness to engage in frank and clear discussions regarding the nuclear end-game.”

He added that the Western governments can prove their good will by officially recognizing Iran™s right to enrich uranium for peaceful purposes.

Iran is poised to offer a new set of proposals during the talks. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will head the Iranian delegation, but sources close to the Iranian team revealed that Zarif will be present in the negotiations only if other parties are represented by their foreign ministers.

Tehran says it is ready for œserious” and œpurposeful” negotiations over its nuclear energy program and has called on the other side to show seriousness in talks.

œGood will begets good will, but it must first be tested to make sure it is not full of bad intentions nicely cloaked as honest and sincere,” wrote Afrasiabi.

The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.

Iran categorically rejects the allegation, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

KA/HJL