TEHRAN (Fars News Agency)- The Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki said that a general invitation has been extended to the other parties to attend the negotiating table to discuss Iran’s nuclear issue.
In a joint press conference with the Pakistani foreign minister Mian Khurshid Mahmood Kasuri here in Tehran today, Iranian foreign minister Manouchehr Mottaki stated that so far two rounds of negotiations have been arranged with the Pakistani side addressing political, economic and other fields because relations between Iran and Pakistan are all- encompassing.
Mottaki added that the volume of trade between Iran and Pakistan has exceeded USD 600m which is expected to jack up to USD1b.
Iranian foreign minister stated that the construction of Iran’s gas pipeline to India via Pakistan was another issue of discussion and the two sides laid emphasis on its finalization.
He added that in the course of talks with his Pakistani counterpart the two sides have also addressed the regional developments such as Iraqi, Lebanese and Afghan issues saying that: ” Certainly peace and tranquility in Afghanistan is of prime significance. In the case of Iraq too, we and the Pakistani side laid emphasis on the national unity and territorial integrrity of Iraq”.
The Iranian top diplomat then reiterated that Iran and Pakistan are concerned about ethnic clashes and disorders in the name of Shiites and Sunnis in Iraq.
In response to a question as to what the Iranian president means by raising the issue of restoration of nuclear rights and celebrating the event during the Ten Day Dawn Ceremonies, the Iranian foreign minister said that proclamation of Iran’s access to nuclear technology means restoration of our nuclear rights.
He added that Iran will continue with its legal nuclear activities within the framework of the NPT as well as international rules and regulations.