Iran not to oppose Turkish mediation in talks with US
Tehran, Nov 18 (Xinhua) Iran has said it will not oppose Turkey's mediation in possible future talks between the Islamic nation and the US under its new president Barack Obama.
'We will certainly not create any obstacles in the way of such moves,' Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Hassan Qashqavi said Monday, Iranian Press TV reported.
Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan said last Friday Ankara could play a positive role in mediating between Tehran and Washington.
'We think the comments stem from Turkish goodwill and the flourishing neighborly ties between Iran and Turkey,' Qashqavi was quoted as saying at a press conference.
'But the reality is that the issue and problems between Iran and the United States go beyond the usual political problems between the two states,' Qashqavi added.
Referring to whether Obama will change the policies of its predecessor, Qashqavi said 'We now have to wait and see whether the change in orientation of Washington is serious or not.'
The US and its allies accuse Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the cover of a civilian nuclear programme. Iran denies the charges and insists that its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes only.
Addressing his first press conference Obama said in Chicago on Nov 7 that Iran's development of nuclear weapon is 'unacceptable'.
Tehran Saturday asked Washington to change its policy towards Iran before holding talks between the two sides, saying: 'The talks is not the main issue, what is important is the change of US policy towards Iran.'
