Undersecretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Baqeri stressed on Wednesday that Tehran will rigidly continue materializing its right of access to the peaceful nuclear technology, reiterating that the country will never compromise its nuclear rights.

"The Islamic Republic of Iran insists on the full materialization of the nation's nuclear rights to make use of all the potentials of the peaceful nuclear technology," Baqeri said.

He also stressed that the above-mentioned issue was raised in a meeting between Iranian lead negotiator Saeed Jalili and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Istanbul, Turkey, earlier this month.

Jalili and Ashton met last week in a follow-up to their previous negotiations on Iran's nuclear issue.

After a 15-month hiatus, Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) held several rounds of talks this year.

After the Istanbul talks this month, Jalili described his meeting with Ashton as "good", and said Tehran is waiting for the world powers' response to its proposals.

Speaking at a press conference after a bilateral meeting with Ashton, who represents the world powers in talks with Tehran, in Istanbul last Wednesday, the Iranian negotiator described his meeting with Ashton as "good", and said, "At this meeting we reviewed the discussions raised in the Moscow talks and the contents of the experts meeting (in Istanbul in July), and we studied the common points which can serve as a platform for cooperation and further talks."

"We are always ready for talks and we have declared that we are ready to hear your response to Iran's plan," Jalili added.

He said Ashton is due to inform the Group 5+1 member states of the conclusions reached in the meeting.

Jalili alluded that he and Ashton have come to the conclusion that "the viewpoints raised in Moscow and Istanbul have reached a common point", and now a decision can be made for the start of the next round of talks.

Quoting Ashton's remarks about the Tuesday night meeting, who had described the talks as "useful", Jalili said, "We hope that we can help bring the viewpoints closer."

Following the Tuesday meeting with Jalili, Ashton described the talks as "useful" and "constructive".

"While it was not a formal negotiating round it was a useful and constructive meeting," said a declaration issued by EU High Representative Ashton's spokesman Michael Mann after the last week meeting between Ashton and Jalili.
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