Iran not to give up its peaceful nuclear rights

Visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said here Wednesday that his country will not give up its peaceful nuclear rights.

"You cannot simply have the illusion that Iran, because of pressure or coercion, will simply give up," the Iranian top diplomat told a press conference at Japan's Foreign Correspondents' Club, addingIran's red line is no closure or dismantling any nuclear facilities when tackling the concerned Iranian nuclear issue.

Iran's intentions in developing nuclear program have been questioned by the Western countries which suspected Iran is attempting to obtain nuclear weapons.

Zarif noted that the best way for the West to make sure that Iran's nuclear program would stick to its peaceful purpose is to ensure that Iran has a transparent nuclear program with the International Atomic Energy Agency to examine and verify the country's peaceful intentions.

The minister went on to say that his country now seeks "a win- win game that Iran will have an enrichment program that remains exclusively peaceful," adding it is the only "reasonable game."

Iran on Nov. 24 last year reached an accord with six countries, namely Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States, in Geneva to curb the country's uranium enrichment in exchange for easing some international sanctions.

As the accord took effect since Jan. 20, the nations started talks in Vienna last month toward the conclusive agreement and will resume a new round of talks on March 17.

Zarif maintained optimism on the upcoming talks, saying the negotiation will soon produce a final agreement in connection with Iran's nuclear program. "With political will and good faith, we will be able to reach an agreement and to start implementing it in the near future," said the minister.

The Iranian top diplomat said that Iran does not seek nuclear weapons and considered that nuclear weapons would not enhance his country's security, adding this stand is based on a strategic calculation.

"In our immediate neighborhood, we are already the most powerful and we need to go out of our way in order to convince our neighbors that we do not have any intentions against them," said Zarif.

"We believe that nuclear weapons have no place in the Middle East. Actually, nuclear weapons in our view have no place in the world and nuclear weapons do not produce security for anybody," said the foreign minister.

On situation in Syria, Zarif said that Iran believes that there is no, absolutely no, military solution to the war-torn country, adding that some country's policy on Syria was based on illusion that a military victory was achievable in two months.

"Now, that policy led to an utter disaster," said Zarif, adding that it is time to change the idea into a political solution which should be inclusive and the future of Syria should be decided by its own people without external intervention.

On Wednesday, Zarif also met with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe who asked Iran to makes efforts to secure a final agreement with the international community on its nuclear program.