No new developments in Iran, US talks; Araqchi

ILNA: Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araqchi says there have been no new developments with regards to direct negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the US.

“No new issue has been raised with regards to direct negotiations,” Araqchi said Saturday.

The Iranian official added that speculation by individuals or institutions have no concrete basis.

“The new [Iranian] administration has not made any decisions about entering talks with the US,” Araqchi added.

Former US Undersecretary of State Nicholas Burns said in an article published by The Times Record on Friday that Tehran and Washington may hold their first direct negotiations in 34 years in the second half of 2013.

Earlier this week, nearly 120 American lawmakers in the US House of Representatives signed a letter urging President Barack Obama to engage in negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

We believe it would be a mistake not to test whether Dr. Rohani’s election represents a real opportunity for progress toward a verifiable, enforceable agreement. … In order to test this proposition, it will be prudent for the United States to utilize all diplomatic tools to reinvigorate ongoing nuclear talks,” the letter read.

Iran’s President-elect Hassan Rohani won 50.7 percent of the latest presidential election in Iran to secure an outright victory.
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