an Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani has called on the Western governments to follow the path of wisdom in their nuclear negotiations with the Islamic Republic.

“It is now a good time for prudent negotiations. Put wisdom on the table and [other] options into your pocket,” Larijani said while addressing Western countries on Thursday.
 

“Today, our nation has become vigilant and the rhetoric by the Americans and others that all options are on the table is devoid of any value,” he added.

Larijani said the Western governments should not exploit talks on Iran’s nuclear issue to realize their “illegitimate demands.”

He also dismissed remarks by American officials that Tehran sat at the negotiating table with the world powers under the pressure of sanctions.

Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council -- the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain - plus Germany sealed an interim deal in Geneva on November 24 to pave the way for the full resolution of the West’s decade-old dispute with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.

Under the deal, the six countries have undertaken to lift some of the existing sanctions against the Islamic Republic in exchange for Tehran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period. It was also agreed that no more sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.


Larijani also stated that Iran does not insist on participation at the upcoming Geneva 2 peace conference on Syria, adding, “We don’t insist on our presence. If you can resolve the problem, go ahead and do it.”

The Syria peace conference is scheduled to open in the Swiss city of Montreux on January 22, 2014.

On December 20, UN-Arab League Special Representative for Syria Lakhdar Brahimi said Iran’s presence in the Geneva 2 meeting has not been decided upon yet due to US opposition.
 

News ID 185904