P5+1 should not seek political smile

Iran’s Majlis Speaker Ali Larijani says Tehran will approach the upcoming talks with the six major world powers with a positive outlook. "Iran’s view of these talks is positive, provided that positive steps are taken by the other side and it (P5+1) is not just after a political smile,” Larijani said in a meeting with Japan’s former premier Yukio Hatoyama in Tehran on Sunday. Iran and the P5+1 -- Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany -- have held two rounds of multifaceted talks, one in Geneva in December 2010 and another in the Turkish city of Istanbul in January 2011. Tehran says it is ready to continue the talks based on common ground but has stressed that it will not give up any of its rights. For his part, the former Japanese premier said the negotiations provide a suitable opportunity to build mutual trust, adding that Japan hopes the outcome of the talks will contribute to peace and stability in the region. The United States, Israel and some of their allies accuse Tehran of pursuing military objectives in its nuclear energy program and have used this pretext to impose unilateral and international sanctions against the country. Iran has refuted the allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to the peaceful use of nuclear technology.