Iran rules out preconditions in nuclear talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki said today there can be no pre-conditions to Iran entering into nuclear talks with the European countries, adding that Iran's stand has been well defined, IRNA reported.

He said the (nuclear) talks are quite serious and should follow a timetable, when the Iranian nuclear team and the European Union delegation began their first round of nuclear talks in Vienna today.

The topics of the talks are clear and the talks will proceed if our European friends are determined," he noted, adding "We do not want the talks just for the sake of holding talks.

"Iran's position that its nuclear activities should not be distracted by preconceived allegations of intention and Europeans should reaffirm Iran's right to obtain access to nuclear technology for peaceful ends are the two main points of contention in the talks" that are now under way in Vienna, he stressed.

The kind and nature of activities in the UCF of Isfahan cannot be classified as "enrichment" and activities there will continue, he declared in response to a question of whether activities in the Isfahan UCF will continue given that talks are under way in Vienna.

He underlined the necessity of "enrichment and completion of the nuclear fuel cycle on Iranian territory, saying, "The technology that is to be used has become a local science." The two sides will hold their second round of the current talks on Wednesday. The Iranian team is headed by Javad Vaidi.