TEHRAN, Feb. 7 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said that the United States should take action to resolve the dispute over Tehran's nuclear program if it is keen to hold direct negotiations with the Islamic republic, Tehran Times daily reported on Thursday.
"If the Americans are insistent on holding direct talks with Iran, they should take action to resolve the problem they have created with regard to our nuclear activities," Mehmanparast said on Wednesday in reference to the U.S. proposal for bilateral talks with Iran.
The United States keeps the door open for direct talks with the Iranian government with regard to its controversial nuclear program, U.S. Vice-President Joe Biden said last week.
"We will stop Iran from getting a nuclear weapon," Biden said, adding that Iran's nuclear weapon must be stopped as it posed " threat to national security of the United States."
However, he added that there existed "time and space" in terms of "successful diplomacy." While a window of time for negotiations would be kept open, Biden said "it would not be unlimited, and by no means would the U.S. stand idly by as a program for atomic bombs is developed."
A new round of talks over Iran's controversial nuclear program is set to be reopened after months of moratorium later this month.
Iran's nuclear program has aroused concerns of the West that the country is making headways in its sought for nuclear weapons. However, Iran has repeatedly said its nuclear program has only peaceful goals.
"Our general policy in the Islamic republic establishment is to expand ties with all countries," Mehmanparast said Wednesday, adding that relations with the United States were severed due to its acts of hostility against Iran.
The offer of bilateral talks may show a change in U.S. government's actions, he was quoted as saying.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The Obama administration on Wednesday expanded the U.S. sanctions on Iran by tightening up economic measures against the Islamic republic and adding more names to its blacklist. Full story
Iran's nuclear sites impervious to any attack by U.S., Israel: commander
TEHRAN, Feb. 5 (Xinhua) -- A senior Iranian commander said that the nuclear facilities of the Islamic republic are impervious to any potential attack by the United State or Israel, Press TV reported on Tuesday.
"Today, we have achieved the defense capability to make vital infrastructure, especially nuclear installations, completely impenetrable," Deputy Commander of Iran's Khatam al-Anbia Air Defense Base General Shahrokh Shahram was quoted as saying on Monday.Full story
BERLIN, Feb. 4 (Xinhua) -- Iran's Foreign Minister Ali-Akbar Salehi said here on Monday he was "optimistic" that the new U.S. administration was shifting its approach to Iran.
Referring to U.S. Vice President Joe Biden's weekend proposal of bilateral dialogue between the two countries, Salehi believed it was a sign of change of the new U.S. administration's approach to Iran's disputed nuclear program.Full story
MUNICH, Germany, Feb. 2 (Xinhua) -- The United States is prepared to hold direct talks with Iran when the Iranian leadership is "serious", U.S. Vice President Joe Biden said on Saturday.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference Saturday, Biden said that "we have made it clear at the outset that we would be prepared to meet bilaterally with the Iranian leadership," adding that the U.S. is "not just prepare to do it for the exercise."Full story
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