“No side [in the] negotiations can conclude talks in its favor by exerting pressure,” Zarif told reporters on Wednesday.

He added that Iran’s “nuclear capabilities are indigenous” and, therefore, no one can deprive the country of “peaceful nuclear technology.”

Zarif said Iran’s concerns would only be alleviated if the West allows the use of these achievements for peaceful purposes in centers supervised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

“The Islamic Republic of Iran seeks negotiations to find a solution and therefore it is important for us that talks begin properly,” Zarif added.

The Iranian Foreign Minister noted that he would meet with the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, on the sidelines of the upcoming UN General Assembly meeting in New York.

“There is no plan … [or] direct meeting with US officials on our agenda.… As you know, the US is a member of the P5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany) and has had talks with Iranian officials at that level,” he said.

On September 5, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani officially assigned the Foreign Ministry to take charge of future nuclear talks with the P5+1 group -- Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States plus Germany.

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

Tehran strongly rejects the claim, maintaining that as a committed signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the IAEA, it has the right to use nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

HH/HH