Iran's FM says Tehran remains committed NPT member for now

TEHRAN, Nov. 6 (Xinhua) -- Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Thursday that the country remains a committed member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for now.

He made the remarks during a meeting with university students in the western city of Hamedan, referencing a religious decree issued by Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei that prohibits the development of nuclear weapons, according to a statement from the Iranian Foreign Ministry.

Araghchi explained that the decision to remain in or withdraw from the NPT has been discussed at the highest levels of government.

Commenting on the possibility of resuming nuclear talks with the United States, Araghchi said that Tehran has engaged in negotiations with Washington at various times and on different issues, but has never achieved any positive results.

He emphasized, however, that Iran has never fully abandoned dialogue and diplomacy. "We say that if the United States is ready for honorable negotiations on equal footing, aimed at safeguarding mutual interests, we are also ready. But we do not see such an approach or spirit from the Americans," he said.

Iran suspended cooperation with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in June under a parliamentary law, citing the agency's failure to condemn Israeli and U.S. attacks earlier that month on its nuclear sites, as well as concerns about the safety of its facilities and scientists.

Withdrawing from the NPT has long been speculated as one of Iran's potential responses to the West's anti-Tehran measures. Enditem