Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araqchi who was speaking in interview with Al Mayadeen channel in response to a question regarding the introduction of Iran’s missile system into the nuclear talks said "The issue of Iran’s missile power was mentioned a number of times when we explained the issue to the other side in full; maintaining that we could not negotiate our defense system and military equipment and that we would not allow anyone enter into the subject.”
The senior nuclear negotiator added "Problems reach beyond what we used to imagine. There are also deep chasms between the positions of the two sides. But we still have time until November 4 to reach an agreement.”
We will make plans for the new round of talks with the 5+1 in the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in late September, he said.
Araqchi added "Until that time, we will hold more bilateral meetings with most of the member countries of the group and we hope that some of the tough problems will be resolved in the meantime.”
"We will not leave the negotiation table,” he asserted, adding "We may limit some nuclear activities for a certain period of time in order to build trust, but this is not equal to abandoning our nuclear rights.”
The senior Iranian nuclear negotiator rejected allegations that maintain it was the economic sanctions that dragged Iran to the negotiation table.
"If sanctions had made the reason for attending the talks, we would have done so years ago. But what obliged Iran to the talks is that due to its achievements, the country holds a lot of cards in hand which make it do the talks from a position of power,” he noted.
He further said "In Geneva it was said that Iran would continue enriching uranium, but its level and volume would be determined by the country’s practical need. This is undeniable and our need is industrial and we must reach the industrial fuel production level.”