Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov has reiterated Iran’s inalienable right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Speaking to reporters in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Friday about Iran’s right to enrich uranium based on the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), Ryabkov said Iran, a signatory to the NPT, is entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

“Of course, this right entails certain responsibilities,” he added.

Ryabkov pointed out that he has never observed any evidence indicating that Iran's nuclear program has a military diversion.

He also highlighted the significance of finding ways to resolve the Western dispute over Iran's nuclear program instead of marking differences.

The Russian official pointed to the new round of multifaceted talks between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) and urged a positive approach to the negotiations.

“This round of talks is very important and sensitive and I think that talks can be held via a constructive approach in a way that will serve the interests of all P5+1 countries and Iran,” Ryabkov said.

Iran and the P5+1 - Russia, China, Britain, France, the US and Germany - are scheduled to resume a fresh round of multifaceted talks in Istanbul on Saturday.

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday that Moscow is optimistic about the resumption of the fresh round of the multifaceted talks between Iran and the world’s six powers.

Iran maintains that as a signatory to the NPT and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to acquire and develop nuclear technology for peaceful objectives.
mehr/281