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TEHRAN: Iran's top nuclear negotiator Ali Larijani on Tuesday said no subject would be taboo if the Islamic republic agreed to negotiations with world powers over its atomic programme.
“Iran has always welcomed a sensible path to solve this issue and has said all subjects can be discussed. Nothing needs to be held back,” Larijani told state television.
“In the negotiations, if anyone has any worries or issues on Iran's nuclear case they can come forward and discuss them,” he added.
Larijani's comments appear to be a reaffirmation of Iran's position that it would be prepared to discuss its controversial enrichment of uranium during talks, but would not impose a freeze as a precondition for negotiations.
“What is important is that we find a logical path to solve this issue. Giving concessions or obtaining concessions is not what should be talked about for the moment,” he said.
“First we have to see if the negotiations would be based on logical conditions and reach a conclusion or if the outcome of negotiations would be decided in advance,” he said.
While US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice has insisted she is ready for talks with her Iranian counterpart, Washington has always maintained Tehran must halt its uranium enrichment activities first.
Past overtures for talks between the two foes have always stumbled over Iran's right to enrich uranium in its nuclear programme, a process the West fears Iran could use to produce nuclear weapons.
Iran has refused to suspend uranium enrichment, saying it has every right to the full nuclear fuel cycle and its atomic programme is solely aimed at generating energy.
Larijani, who last week held talks with Italian Prime Minister Romano Prodi in Rome, said the Italian government had good ideas over a way forwards in the nuclear crisis.
“Prodi has had good ideas but as he has problems at home these have been put off until later,” said Larijani, referring to the political turbulence in Italy.
“These ideas are just at the start of the road and we should wait until they have become more refined,” he added.
