Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says the negotiations between the Islamic Republic and six major world powers over Tehran’s nuclear case should be based on mutual trust.

“We believe talks should be based on the principle of mutual trust and conducted on an equal footing. We cannot accept any party dictating or imposing a proposition on Iran,” Zarif said in an exclusive interview with IRIB 2 television network late on Monday.

He added, “We frankly told the Western sides in New York that the policy of pressure has led to an increase in the nuclear activities of Iran.”

“We had 200 centrifuges eight years ago, but sanctions resulted in our possessing of 19,000 centrifuges at the moment,” Zarif said.

The Iranian foreign minister also pointed to the differences among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- the United States, China, Russia, France and Britain -- plus Germany over the deal with Iran, noting that a great proportion of the time in Switzerland was spent on internal talks among the six major powers on the resolution of their discords.

The closed-door talks between Iran and the six world powers began in the Swiss city of Geneva, on November 7 and ended on November 9.

Zarif estimated that the Iranian nuclear issue could be solved in less than a year provided that the West does not look for excuses.

He further stressed that the Middle East and the world are facing serious crises, saying that the world needs the effective and positive role of Iran.

The senior Iranian official also described US sanctions against the Islamic Republic as “unilateral” and “in violation of international agreements.”

Zarif underlined that the talks between Iran and the six major world powers are merely meant to resolve Tehran’s nuclear case, advising littoral Arab states of the Persian Gulf not to mistake it with an attempt for rapprochement between Tehran and Washington.

He said neighboring countries have a special priority in Iran’s foreign policy, and the Islamic Republic attaches great significance to its neighbors’ interests.

The Iranian foreign minister added that the interests of Israel and its allies in the region are in danger.

“The Zionist regime (of Israel) and its supporters in the United States survive on tension and crisis. Therefore, they do not want the regional problems to be solved and that is why they are worried,” Zarif said.

He also said the angry remarks by Israel and its American supporters show that they are not happy about the considerable progress that was achieved during the latest round of talks in Geneva.

Zarif added that the West should regain the trust of the Iranian nation by accepting the realities on the ground.

Iran and the six powers could not reach a deal over Tehran’s nuclear energy program in the three-day talks in Geneva, but the two sides said significant progress had been made and expressed optimism about the prospect of achieving a deal.

Tehran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany will continue their nuclear negotiations in Geneva on November 20.

HK