Former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard said the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution’s fatwa (religious edict) on banning nuclear arms will help promote confidence about Tehran’s nuclear activities.
Former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard said the Supreme Leader of Islamic Revolution’s fatwa (religious edict) on banning nuclear arms will help promote confidence about Tehran’s nuclear activities, Iranian Mehr news agency reported.
Grand Ayatollah Sayyed Ali Khamenei, Supreme Leader of the Islamic Revolution, issued a fatwa on April 17, 2010 declaring that the production, stockpiling, and use of nuclear weapons are all prohibited in Islam.
Commenting on the next round of talks between Tehran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) which is scheduled to be held in Baghdad on May 23, Rocard said the planned meeting is a great opportunity for all countries to know what they want.
In a televised interview broadcast live on Iranian television late on Sunday, Rocard stated that the 5+1 group will try to adopt a common stance toward the meeting.
Commenting on differences of opinion between France and the United States, he said that Paris was opposed to U.S. decision to invade Iraq in 2003.
“We should remain loyal to the international community so that… negotiations in Baghdad would yield good results,” Rocard said.
Iranian officials have reiterated that they are hopeful to see encouraging results in the upcoming meeting in Baghdad.
However, Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili, who is Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator, said on Sunday that any miscalculation by the West will prevent the negotiations from being successful.
“In Baghdad, we will wait for a measure that will win the confidence of the Iranian nation,” Jalili stated.
The Iranian official also advised Western officials to avoid making “unconstructive” comments and false allegations against the Islamic Republic.
Michel Rocard arrived in Tehran on Saturday for a 3-day visit, during which he met with senior Iranian officials.
Iran and the 5+1 group held a new round of talks in Istanbul on April 14, breaking a 15-month hiatus in talks, and agreed to meet again in Baghdad on May 23.
