Iran invites world powers to discuss its nuke programme

Tehran: Iranian government has called for “serious” nuclear talks with the world powers to settle the country’s long-standing dispute with other nations over its nuclear programme. “The only way to reach an understanding would be through serious talks based on goodwill, dialogue and cooperation,” reported Xinhua citing foreign ministry spokesperson Abbas Araqchi Thursday. [caption id=“attachment_968647” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  A nuclear facility in Iran. Agencies.[/caption] Insisting that “threat and sanctions” by the West have been proved unproductive, Araqchi said Iran expects the opposite sides “to adopt a constructive and cooperative approach”. He added the Islamic republic has been a “committed member of the Non- Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and will continue to abide by its commitments under the treaty’s framework”. On Wednesday, Iranian Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said the nuclear talks between the Islamic republic and five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany, will resume after the new president-elect Hassan Rouhani announced a new negotiating team. IANS