If the West wants to see its talks with Iran bear fruit and its differences with the Islamic Republic over the country’s nuclear energy program resolved, it should pursue a policy of engagement with Tehran and end its sanctions on Iran, President of Russia’s National and International Security Foundation, Leonid Shershnev said on Saturday.

The US-led sanctions on Iran have had a boomerang effect on the country’s nuclear energy drive, and, ironically enough, have speeded up the Islamic Republic’s peaceful nuclear activities, Shershnev added.

The Russian official also stated the illogical policy of slapping sanctions on Iran is a nonstarter, and will not help the West achieve its goals whatsoever.

The West is antagonizing certain countries by imposing embargoes on them, said Shershnev, adding many nations in the world, particularly Muslim nations, hate the West because of is sanctions policy.

He also said banning medicine sales to Iran under the false allegation that the country seeks to develop nuclear weapons is an inhumane approach adopted by the West against Iranian people and reveals the anti-human nature of the United States and its allies.

The US, Israeli regime and some of their allies falsely claim that Tehran is pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program, with Washington and the European Union using the unfounded allegation as a pretext to impose illegal sanctions on Iran.

Tehran has strongly rejected the groundless claim over its nuclear energy activities, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Iran has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

NTJ/SHI