EU sanctions against Iran have further complicated talks: Ahani

Berlin, Jun 19, IRNA -- The latest European Union sanctions against Iran will make any negotiations more difficult, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for European Affairs Ali Ahani told the Munich-based daily Sueddeutsche Zeitung on Friday.

Ahani stressed the EU sanctions would only further complicate the path for new talks with Tehran.

He vowed that Iran would show a "clear reaction" to the EU move.

The Iranian diplomat said European companies would be the main victims of this European sanction policy.

"It is a pity that by calling for tighter sanctions (against Iran), Chancellor Angela Merkel and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle have hurt German companies," Ahani said.

He made it clear that Iran was "used to sanctions," saying the controversial embargo policy had no longer the effect it once had.

Ahani lashed out at Westerwelle for criticizing Tehran's civilian nuclear activities, while at the same time delivering nuclear submarines to Israel.

"The Zionist regime is neither a member of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty nor does it comply with international obligations," according to the Iranian official.

He reiterated Iran's strong stance against a nuclear bomb.

"We are against building an atomic bomb and we have announced this at the highest political level. All our nuclear activities are under the
supervision of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)," Ahani said.

He emphasized that no other IAEA member state had cooperated as closely with the UN nuclear watchdog than Iran.

Ahani said Tehran would soon reply to the letter of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who voiced her readiness for new talks in the wake of the latest UN resolution against Iran./end