March 16, 2012 - 15:09 AMT
German FM: sanctions against Iran will continue

German Foreign Minister noted that Germany will continue backing the sanctions against Iran until the nuclear issue gets settled.

As Guido Westerwelle told a press conference in Yerevan, the Islamic Republic can force itself out of the isolation and achieve lifting of sanctions by resuming negotiations and cooperating both with international community, particularly the IAEA. The Minister noted that Germany stands against Iran’s use of nuclear energy for military purposes and will further pursue sanctions policy through cooperation with the rest of the EU partners until Iran abandons its nuclear program.

According to Reuters, Iran welcomed on Wednesday, March 14 a new round of nuclear negotiations with six world powers, saying the two sides should set "the date and venue" of the talks, Iranian media reported.

Last week European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton accepted Iran's offer of further talks with the powers in a bid to reach agreement on the future of Iran's nuclear activities.

Iran has repeatedly rejected Western accusations that its nuclear energy progamme is a cover for developing nuclear weapons, saying its goals are entirely peaceful.

The United States and the EU have imposed punishing sanctions against Iran's banking and energy sectors pressure it to abandon its uranium enrichment program.

"In a letter to Catherine Ashton, Iran's nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili welcomed the political will of (the six) countries to return to the talks. He also said the two sides should stay in contact to set a date and venue for the talks," the official news agency IRNA said.