Iranian presidential hopeful Manouchehr Mottaki says the next Iranian president should make efforts to resolve the international dispute over the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s nuclear program.\n<\/p>\n
The next president should take steps to address the issue, Mottaki, who is a member of the Coalition of Five, said during a question-and-answer session in Tehran on Monday.\n<\/p>\n
The former foreign minister emphasized that the Islamic Republic has the right to use nuclear technology meant for peaceful purposes, saying resolving the dispute over the country\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s nuclear program will be \u00c5\u201cone of the eleventh administration\u00e2\u201e\u00a2s top priorities in foreign affairs.\u201d\n<\/p>\n
\u00c5\u201cI think it is the appropriate time for us to utilize diplomacy more seriously and according to defined scenarios in order to resolve the nuclear issue,\u201d Mottaki said.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n
He also noted that Iran has had the \u00c5\u201cupper hand\u201d in the nuclear negotiations with the West.<\/p>\n
The United States, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program.\n<\/p>\n
Iran rejects the allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the nuclear 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.\n<\/p>\n
Meanwhile, the Guardian Council, Iran’s top electoral supervisory body, is vetting hopefuls who want to run in the presidential election and is expected to announce the list of approved candidates on Tuesday.\n<\/p>\n
Official campaigning will start two days after the Guardian Council releases its final list.\n<\/p>\n
The president of Iran is elected for a four-year term in a national election.\n<\/p>\n
NT\/HGL<\/p>\n