Beijing Review: Western media have expressed disappointment at the latest talks between Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in late February. How would you evaluate the outcome of the talks and the cooperation between Iran and the international nuclear watchdog?
　　Mahdi Safari: The talks have not been disappointing. This is just propaganda by some Western media and diplomats in order to negatively affect the atmosphere of cooperation between Iran and the IAEA, and unfortunately media in other countries have directly quoted from Western media sources without due verification and diversification of their news sources.
　　The recent talks between Iran and the IAEA have been going on in a logical and acceptable framework and are right now continuing. Of course both sides have some differences of views that are possible to overcome through dialogue. The latest three rounds of talks between Iran and the IAEA were held from January 29 to 31 in Teheran, from February 15 to 17 in Vienna and from February 20 to 21 in Teheran. According to the understanding reached during those talks, it was decided that: First, before taking any action a modality should be devised and implemented between both parties for solving the remaining issues; Secondly, before the finalization of the mentioned modality, no request should be made by the IAEA for inspections in Iran. Based on those principles, both parties exchanged their draft modality frameworks and it was decided that the final document on the modality would be signed during the third round of talks to be held in Teheran.
　　Unfortunately, the IAEA delegation visiting Teheran on February 20 asked to inspect the Parcheen military site and announced the requested inspection as a pre-condition for continuation of talks. It is worth mentioning that this issue had not even been mentioned in the IAEA proposed draft. Nonetheless, the Islamic Republic of Iran has continued its cooperation with the IAEA and right now is in dialogue for resolving the remaining issues.
　　 Are there any preconditions for Iran to cooperate with the IAEA?
　　There are indeed no pre-conditions. All of Iran’s nuclear activities are currently carried out under the supervision of the IAEA and Iran has been cooperating with the IAEA at a level much further than its obligations under the NPT [Non-Proliferation Treaty]. Of course Iran believes that a never-ending process of posing questions and requirements shall not lead to a final resolution, and in order to resolve the remaining issues between Iran and the IAEA, it is necessary for the IAEA to offer Iran all its questions and issues once and in one package followed by the IAEA guaranteeing within the modality framework that once Iran offers convincing answers to all the questions, they should return Iran’s nuclear file to the normal status.
　　 Iran has reiterated the peaceful nature of its nuclear programs, and promised not to develop nuclear weapons. But why do things keep escalating, even to the point that there have been calls for a military strike on Iran? Are you more concerned about Israel or the United States?
　　Iran’s nuclear activities are peaceful, open and transparent. We believe that if there is any serious will for solving the questions the other side has regarding Iran’s nuclear programs, it is possible to solve them all in the simplest and fastest way. We believe that some countries have hidden their political motives behind Iran’s nuclear issue and, having such political objectives, they are preventing the international bodies and organizations from executing their responsibilities in a purely professional way.
　　We have unfortunately witnessed that some international organizations have yielded to the pressure exerted by major powers without regard for violation of their own international credibility. One such example is threatening to attack Iran or even threatening to use nuclear weapons against Iran, which are despicable from the point of view of international norms. You have witnessed how they have treated Iran, a country that has always officially declared its peaceful nuclear activities which has been repeatedly verified by international inspectors. Whereas Israel, a non-signatory to NPT that has admitted to having nuclear weapons, together with the United States and others, has repeatedly threatened to attack Iran, and no action is taken against it.
　　While we do not look for war and will not be the first to start it, those threatening Iran know it very well that Iran does have the capability to defend itself and committing such a great mistake such as attacking Iran can endanger the peace and stability in the region and even the whole world. Therefore we consider an attack on Iran quite improbable.
　　 How do you assess the role of the nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 group in easing tensions?
　　The Islamic Republic of Iran has repeatedly and through different channels announced its readiness for dialogue over common issues based on mutual respect. We believe that if all sides are ready for serious dialogue without pressure, threats or sanctions, all issues and ambiguities can be resolved, and this is in the interests of all sides. Of course, such a will must exist on all sides.
　　 What is Iran’s stance on the Syrian crisis and regional situation in the Middle East?
　　I believe that a major portion of the Syrian crisis is due to foreign interference there. Some foreign countries are trying to take advantage of the current situation in Syria and provoking the situation even further; they have created much trouble for the efforts made by the President Assad’s government toward political and social reforms.
　　Some Western and Middle-Eastern countries have shown that they are not after real popular reforms, they are after regime change in Syria through supporting a small group of political extremists and the international community cannot accept such innovations in international laws.
　　The wise positions adopted by China and Russia in blocking the hegemonic moves shows that fortunately there are still powers in the international community that are after creating a suitable atmosphere for international interactions.
　　The Islamic Republic of Iran supports President Bashar Assad’s peace-seeking measures in carrying out the democratic reforms in Syria and condemns acts of violence committed by some political forces and crime under the influence of foreign forces. Iran is calling for interaction among the political forces in Syria away from violence and supports the stability and territorial integrity of Syria, and strongly opposes any kind of foreign interference in Syria under any pretext.
　　 What is your opinion about the SinoIranian relationship?
　　In recent years, Iran and China have been able to pave the way for expansion of their bilateral ties in political, economic and cultural arenas in an atmosphere filled with mutual trust. Currently our bilateral ties are at the highest and best level. Excellent political understanding exists between both countries and the high-ranking officials of both countries are in contact with each other and are in consultation with each other over many regional and international issues. There are close ties between both countries at ministerial and expert levels, too.
　　The trade and economic potential for Iran and China has provided much ground for the blossoming of bilateral trade and economic ties. The volume of trade between the two countries as of the end of 2011 exceeded $40 billion and Chinese companies are participating in some of Iran’s industrial and energy projects. The outlook for Iran and China’s economic and trade ties is very broad and promising. We are quite optimistic about the expansion of our ties.
　　 Will trade and economic cooperation between China and Iran be affected by regional turmoil in the Middle East?
　　Any crisis, whether regional or international, is not without effects and consequences because all countries are members of the international community. The important question is whether Iran and China will have the ability to manage the crises and their effects on their bilateral relations or not.
　　The past experience has proven that Iran and China’s will and motivation for further expansion of normal bilateral interests and ties would pave the ground for efforts on both sides to reduce the negative effects of crises on bilateral relations.
　　 China is now boosting the development of its cultural industry. Do you think the move will present opportunities for cultural and social exchanges between China and Iran?
　　Cultural common ground and the ancient history and civilizations as well as cultural exchanges between our two countries throughout history have created many civilizational, historical and cultural ties between both countries. Cultural and civilizational features of Iran and China as outstanding oriental civilizations create much ground for comprehensive cooperation in many fields such as cinema, performing arts, music, poetry, literature and painting, among others, and certain initial agreements have been reached between the two countries for cooperating in such fields.
　　Some Iranian and Chinese publishers have agreed to cooperate in mutual publishing of the two countries major works of literature and some of these works will be published soon. In the past, some Iranian classical works of literature such as Mathnawi and Shahnameh have been translated into Chinese and published in China, whereas famous Chinese classics such as The Art of War and Dao De Jing have been translated into Persian and published in Iran, too.
　　Cooperation and exchange in cultural fields can act as the engine for further promoting the people-to-people and nongovernmental exchanges, and we are very hopeful of such cooperation.