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Iran's Zarif reassures Gulf Arabs over nuclear deal
by Staff Writers
Muscat (AFP) Dec 01, 2013


Zarif says Iran has final say on nuclear enrichment
Tehran (AFP) Nov 30, 2013 - Iran will decide the level of uranium enrichment in its nuclear programme based on its energy and other civilian needs, Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in remarks reported Saturday.

His remarks appeared to conflict with the landmark nuclear deal struck with world powers in Geneva last weekend, which states that the enrichment level must be mutually defined and agreed upon by both sides in further negotiations.

"Iran will decide the level of enrichment according to its needs for different purposes," Zarif said late Friday night, according to the official IRNA news agency.

"Only details of the enrichment activities are negotiable," he said, referring to a final accord with the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany -- known as the P5+1 group -- that the parties hope to negotiate within a year.

The interim agreement reached in Geneva set out trust-building measures by both sides to be implemented in a six-month period, during which negotiations over the final accord must begin.

Iran agreed to freeze expansion of its nuclear activities -- which Western powers and Israel suspect mask military objectives despite repeated Iranian denials -- and to cap enrichment of above low-level purity, including 20 percent.

Israel and Western powers hope the final accord will drastically scale back Iran's enrichment programme, which is currently producing the low-enriched uranium required for electricity and medical isotopes but could be ramped up to produce the highly enriched uranium which is a key element of a nuclear weapon.

Iran has repeatedly said it will not seek nuclear weapons while insisting it has the "right" to enrich uranium under the Non-Proliferation Treaty.

"We have always said we will not allow anyone to determine our needs," Zarif was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency. "But we are prepared to negotiate about it."

According to the interim deal, the final accord must "involve a mutually defined enrichment programme with mutually agreed parameters consistent with practical needs."

But it also calls for limits "on scope and level of enrichment activities, capacity, where it is carried out, and stocks of enriched uranium, for a period to be agreed upon."

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif assured Gulf Arab states Sunday his country's nuclear deal with the West is in their interest and also announced plans to visit Saudi Arabia.

"The solution to this issue serves the interests of all countries in the region. It is not at the expense of any state in the region," Zarif said at a joint news conference after meeting Kuwaiti counterpart Sheikh Sabah Khaled al-Sabah.

"Be assured that the nuclear deal is in favour of the stability and security of the region," Zarif said on what was his first official visit to a Gulf Arab nation.

Zarif then travelled to Oman -- which hosted secret negotiations in recent months between Iran and the United States that led to the November 24 landmark deal between Tehran and major powers on Iran's disputed nuclear programme.

Zarif delivered a message to Sultan Qaboos from President Hassan Rouhani on relations between the two countries and issues of common interest, the Omani news agency ONA said in a brief report.

Oman maintains good relations with Tehran, and Sultan Qaboos was Rouhani's first guest following his inauguration on August 3.

He has also acted as an intermediary between Western countries and Iran in recent years.

World powers and Israel suspect Tehran's nuclear ambitions include acquiring a nuclear weapon, a charge Iran vehemently denies.

The Geneva deal was welcomed by the Sunni-ruled Gulf Arab states, which have long been concerned about Shiite Iran's regional ambitions.

But Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) foreign ministers, meeting in Kuwait City last week, also hoped the interim deal would lead to a permanent agreement on Iran's nuclear programme.

Relations between the six GCC nations and Tehran have deteriorated further because of Iran's support for Syria's President Bashar al-Assad.

The GCC consists of energy-rich Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

After his election, Iran's Rouhani said he hoped to improve relations with neighbouring countries, especially Gulf states.

Zarif said in Kuwait City that Iran was looking to open a new page in relations with the Gulf.

He also confirmed plans to visit regional heavyweight Saudi Arabia although no date has yet been set.

"We look at Saudi Arabia as an important and influential country in the region," he said.

Zarif said the Geneva deal does not satisfy all of Iran's demands or "the goals of the other party, but it is important to implement it".

"We will implement the deal and are convinced that implementing it will build the trust," he said.

In Kuwait he also spoke about the Syrian conflict, warning that the 32-month civil war could cause the spread of extremism and sectarianism in the region unless a political solution is found.

He said Iran will attend the Geneva 2 peace conference on Syria "if invited" but will not accept preconditions.

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