Iran and US: "Mutual respect" leads nuclear talks

With the UN General Assembly just around the corner, Iran and the US are ready to begin discussions around Iran’s nuclear program.  The focus of the discussion will be that of mutual respect and an understanding that Tehran can show that its program will be used for civilian purposes only.

“We have had a number of engagements with the Iranians and we'll continue to have conversations on the basis of mutual respect,” stated Josh Earnest, the deputy White House spokesman, as reported by Reuters.

Earnest also stated, “And over the course of those conversations there will be an opportunity for the Iranians to demonstrate through actions the seriousness with which they are pursuing this endeavor,”

Both Iranian President Hassan Rowhani and U.S. President Barack Obama will be in New York to attend the United Nations’ General Assembly. While there is no actual meeting scheduled, it is expected that there may be a conversation between both leaders.

There is a belief in the West that Iran  is developing the nuclear ability to produce weapons but Tehran claims any nuclear affiliation is meant to be used to generate power and nothing more.

In a Reuters interview with Deputy National Security Advisor Ben Rhodes , he said the following.

“We've always made clear that there's not an open-ended window for diplomacy, that we need to be moving forward with a sense of urgency,”

“We do believe ... that Iran has not taken steps, for instance, to break out and weaponize its nuclear program. So even as we move with a sense of urgency here, we do believe that there's time and space to pursue diplomacy.”

Talks are expected to continue after the UN General Assembly meeting on Friday.