Eurasia Press & News
Tehran said that it would send former nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani and deputy foreign minister Saeed Jalili to Rome on Tuesday to meet with EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana in a next round of talks aimed at resolving Tehran-West nuclear standoff. “Dr Jalili will be there, and Dr Larijani will be there as well,” Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Seyed Mohammad Ali Hosseini told reporters during his weekly press conference here on Sunday, adding that Larijani will attend the meeting with Solana as the representative of the Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, in the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC).
Hosseini also reminded that President Ahmadinejad has accepted Larijani’s resignation, but meantime reiterated that the country’s nuclear policies would remain unchanged.
“The Islamic Republic’s nuclear policies, strategies and goals are irrevocable,” he said.
“Our officials will continue strongly along the same road and no change will come about,” he added.
Hosseini dismissed talk of any divisions over policy or any change in strategy.
“There is complete solidarity among the ranks of Iranian officials.”
Larijani will in fact stay on the council in his position as the representative of Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution Ayatollah Seyed Ali Khamenei, and Hosseini did not confirm that the Rome meeting would be his last.
He said, while both would attend these talks, it was not yet clear if both would attend future meetings.
“This is how we will attend this meeting. For the future let us wait and see,” he said.
Larijani’s resignation was announced on Saturday.
Saeed Jalili, deputy foreign minister for European and American affairs, replaced Larijani, who had been due to hold a meeting on Tuesday with European Union foreign policy chief Javier Solana, who represents world powers in the nuclear talks.
