Updated in:
01 February 2011 - 01:39
| TEHRAN, Jan. 29 (MNA) – Iran’s Ambassador to Paris, Mehdi Mir-Abutalebi, has said the time has come for the French government to revise its foreign policy toward Tehran. | |
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Ambassador Mir-Abutalebi made the remarks in an interview with the France-based "Diplomatie” magazine published recently. Mir-Abutalebi said, "Maybe the time has come that through making a fair analysis (of the situation) and considering the interests of the two nations of Iran and France, the foreign policy applied by France toward Iran over the past 30 years should be reviewed.” He added that over the past years, France has taken measures which have soured relations between Tehran and Paris, the climax of which was its expression of support for the seditionists involved in the political unrest that occurred after the June 2009 presidential election in Iran. "Were such provocations in the interests of France? Do such measures shore up Iran-France ties?” It is West’s turn to build trust Elsewhere in his remarks, Mir-Abutalebi said Iran has taken confidence-building measures regarding its nuclear program. "It is the West’s turn to prove they are acting within the framework of the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT).” "Western countries had made a commitment to gradually destroy their nuclear weapons. However, as days go by, they modernize and develop these weapons,” the ambassador lamented. Iran is ready to help resolve international issues Commenting on the strategy adopted by the Islamic Republic toward international issues, Mir-Abutalebi said Iran has always announced its readiness to help resolve regional and international issues. However, it depends whether other countries like to use Iran’s potential in this regard or not, he stated. "If the U.S. and France are honest with their claims on international peace and security, or human rights, why are they seeking to make the Zionist regime stronger in our region?” Elsewhere in his talks, the Iranian ambassador said that the 5+1 group (the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China, and Germany) is "escaping” from negotiations with Tehran. On January 22, Iran and the 5+1 group wrapped up two days of talks in Istanbul without achieving concrete results. The Istanbul meeting was the second round of talks since the negotiations resumed last month in Geneva, breaking a 14-month hiatus.
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