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Update: Iran says not to give up security confidentiality for nuclear deal

Xinhua, May 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

Iran will never sign a nuclear deal that would allow foreign access to the country's scientific and military secrets, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Thursday.

"The recent remarks by the leader of the Islamic republic is a rule for the administration, and we will never sign a deal that would allow anybody to have access to the country's scientific and military secrets," Rouhani said in Iran's northwestern city of Tabriz, according to Press TV.

He was referring to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's remarks on Wednesday that Tehran will not allow inspections to any of its military sites by foreigners under the pretext of a possible nuclear deal.

"Continuing research and development is our red-line, and (nuclear) negotiators are aware of the red-lines," Rouhani said.

Also on Thursday, Iran's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Marzieh Afkham said Western governments must respect Iran's sovereignty to resolve the nuclear dispute, official IRNA news agency reported.

Without respecting Iranian sovereignty, no agreement would be reached between Iran and the P5+1 group, namely Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States, plus Germany, she stressed.

Iran and world powers began a new round of negotiations to finalize an accord on the country's nuclear issue in the Austrian capital of Vienna on Wednesday.

Iran and the P5+1 group have held several rounds of talks on a comprehensive nuclear accord since 2008. The latest round of talks concluded in Vienna last Friday.

Iran's nuclear program has long been a subject of concern for Western powers, who believe it to be geared toward developing nuclear weapons. Iran insists it has an inalienable right to develop its civilian atomic plan. Endit