WTO NEWS/Iran & WTO
 

Iran & WTO

Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesman Hamid Reza Asefi here Sunday welcomed efforts made by the Europeans for Iran's joining the World Trade Organization, terming it as a positive step.

Addressing domestic and foreign reporters in his press conference, Asefi said Iran believes its rights were ignored without any justification.

"We have told the Europeans nothing will replace our legal rights of having access to fuel cycle and peaceful use of nuclear technology.

"The Europeans stressed they made great efforts for Iran's WTO joining due to Iran's cooperation with Europe in nuclear negotiations and the country's goodwill and we accept this," he said.

The spokesman dismissed any link between the US approval of Iran's membership at the WTO and recent Geneva nuclear talks, saying the two issues should be dealt with separately.

He said Iran's WTO joining was set to be discussed after the Geneva talks which it shows that the Europeans believe there is no link between Geneva negotiations and acceptance of Iran's call to join the organization.

Asefi noted that no exact time has been set for Iran's membership at the organization, stressing, "It is important that negotiations have been launched in this regard."
Asked about an Iranian ship carrying aluminium sheets which was stopped by Germany, he said such measures are carried out without any justification.

"Such sanctions and limitations run counter to the spirit of our cooperation with the European countries and are against international regulations and free trade. Iran will not accept them," he said.