Beijing: Iran's top nuclear negotiator today insisted the country was entitled to the right of peaceful use of atomic energy and charged the US with using the threat of sanctions against Tehran as a domestic election ploy.

 Saeed Jalili, who held talks with Chinese officials, told reporters that both Iran and China were against sanctions.

"Concerning the Iranian nuclear issue, we have a lot of areas where we are in agreement. We have a common view on sanctions, proliferation and the right for every nation to peacefully use nuclear energy," he said.

Jalili charged that the US was using the threat of sanctions as a domestic election ploy. "These proposals, plans and dramas are all for the US domestic elections and some nations are viewing these mistaken US unilateral actions with a cold eye."

Ahead of a multilateral meeting in Berlin next week to discuss possibility of another UN Security Council resolution against Iran, China asked international community to "beef up" diplomatic efforts to resume negotiations to end Tehran's nuclear standoff with the West.

Chinese State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan, who also met Jalili, said Beijing was willing to play a "constructive role" in the Iranian nuclear talks advocating China's consistent position that a peaceful solution should be found through dialogue.

Jalili said as a signatory to Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran was willing to fulfill its commitment but it was also entitled to the right of peaceful use of nuclear energy.
Iran "will under no condition give up its undeniable rights," Jalili, was quoted as having told Tang here by the Iranian news agency IRNA.
"Iran insists on resolving the issue through negotiations and will continue cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency," Jalili said. PTI RA KIM 01181832 DEL NNNN

Source : PTI