Iran urges "serious" nuclear talks with powers: spokesman

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Abbas Araqchi called for "serious" nuclear talks with the world powers to settle the country's long-standing nuclear program, Press TV reported on Thursday.

"The only way to reach an understanding would be through serious talks based on goodwill, dialogue and cooperation," Araqchi was quoted as saying.

Insisting that "threat and sanctions" by the West have been proved unproductive, Araqchi said Iran expects the opposite sides "to adopt a constructive and cooperative approach."

The Islamic republic has been a "committed member of the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and will continue to abide by its commitments under the treaty's framework," he added.

Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said Wednesday that the nuclear talks between the Islamic republic and with the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany, or P5+1, will resume after the new president-elect announced a new negotiating team.

EU Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton, who is leading the P5+ 1 group, said Tuesday the world powers are hopeful that their talks with the Islamic republic over its sensitive nuclear program will resume soon.

Hopes are also running high among the Iranian people for a resolution to their country's long-standing nuclear issue after moderate Hassan Rouhani takes office.

On April 6, Iran and the P5+1 group held the last round of nuclear talks in Almaty of Kazakhstan with no practical results achieved.