FM: Iran ready for purposeful nuclear talks

Iran's new foreign minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said that his country is ready for "purposeful" nuclear talks within specified timetable, local media reported on Sunday. Zarif made the remarks in a telephone conversation with EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton on Saturday. The minister stressed a "political determination" and "serious will" for resolving Iran's nuclear issue with Iran's nuclear rights recognized, according to the report. Ashton, for her part, congratulated Zarif on his new post, expressing hope that the talks between the Islamic Republic and six world powers known as P5+1 will resume "as soon as possible." Hopes are running high in the international community for Iran to resolve its nuclear stand-off with the West after Hassan Rouhani won the Iranian presidential election on June 14. Rouhani said after his election that Iran will try to be more "transparent" on nuclear issue, but added that his administration will not negotiate over the country's rights to utilize "peaceful" nuclear technology. Both Iran and the world powers have shown interest for resuming nuclear talks after the last round of negotiations, which were held in Almaty, Kazakhstan, in April without yielding much practical results.