Seven former European ambassadors stress Iran’s nuclear right

Seven former European ambassadors to Tehran stressed the recognition of Iran’s right to peaceful nuclear program, AVA Diplomatic reports.In a note published in the Zionist Haaretz, a group of seven former ambassadors who have lived and worked in Iran for several years, called the recognition of Iran’s right to a peaceful nuclear program one of the reasons the talks are fruitful.

“We, a group of seven European ambassadors, have all lived and worked in Iran for several years during the last decade. We are convinced that the current nuclear negotiations between Tehran and the six countries representing the international community can advance not only the cause of nonproliferation and stability in the Middle East, but also the everyday well-being of all the people in the region,” the note begins.

Later in the note, the former ambassadors noted the mutual mistrust between the parties, adding that the hardest work lies ahead.

The former ambassadors of the UJ, Sweden, Germany, Belgium, France, Spain, and Italy believe “if the parties can reach a good agreement and abide scrupulously by it, trust will blossom”.

“A good agreement is built on compromises. But it must also preserve essentials. For the international community, the critical point of the Iranian issue is that there be an impassable barrier to weapons proliferation. For Iran, it lies in international recognition of its right to implement the main technologies of a major civilian nuclear program. These two goals are legitimate,” they wrote.

Emphasizing their duty to succeed in the talks over Iran’s nuclear program, the former ambassadors called on the negotiators to move fast “to outpace those who, for various but converging motives, have started to mobilize in order to thwart any agreement with Iran”.

Seven European former ambassadors to Iran, who have developed a common approach to Iran and its international relations, wrote this op-ed. They are Richard Dalton (United Kingdom), ambassador 2002-2006; Christofer Gyllenstierna (Sweden) 2003-2007; Paul von Maltzahn (Germany) 2003-2006; Guillaume Metten (Belgium) 1999-2003; François Nicoullaud (France) 2001-2005; Leopoldo Stampa (Spain) 2000-2004 and 2008-2011; and Roberto Toscano (Italy) 2003-2008.