The Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Director Ali Akbar Salehi made the remarks during an exclusive interview with Press TV late on Monday.
He said, “We will not be losing anything. We will be pursuing our work. We will be pursuing our peaceful nuclear activities.”
The nuclear deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, France, Britain and the US – plus Germany was clinched in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24, 2013. The deal came to force on January 20.
Salehi said that the deal has provided an opportunity for the West to engage with Iran.
Iran and the Sextet of world powers are scheduled to hold the next round of talks in the Austrian capital Vienna on February 18.
“We hope that this time they really come with good intention and good faith. If they’re really coming with good faith and good intention, this is an opportunity that they can utilize. Otherwise Iran will pursue its natural course,” Salehi said.
He stressed Tehran's readiness to continue negotiations on its nuclear program, saying, “We will keep on negotiating.”
Salehi's comments came after US senators lined up behind a new sanctions bill against Iran.
The draft sanctions bill against Iran was introduced by Chairman of the US Senate’s Foreign Affairs Committee Robert Menendez and Senator Mark Kirk on December 18, 2013. It would impose further sanctions on Iran, targeting the country’s energy, shipping and mining sectors. The bill would violate the terms of the agreement.
US President Barack Obama said last week that he will use his veto power in case the Congress votes for new sanctions against the Islamic Republic of Iran.
Delivering the State of the Union address at the US Capitol in Washington on January 29, Obama said that new embargoes would spoil Washington’s efforts to give diplomacy a chance over Tehran’s nuclear issue and warned to veto the new sanctions.
“If this Congress sends me a new sanctions bill now that threatens to derail these talks, I will veto it,” he said, referring to the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the six world powers.
Under the Geneva deal, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period. It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.
