Iran denies pursuing US security guarantees for nuclear sites

Xinhuanet:

A top Iranian security official denied reports Tuesday that Iran had sought US security guarantees for nuclear sites during its nuclear talks with the European Union(EU), the official IRNA news agency reported.

"Iran had no concerns about security of its nuclear sites and did not seek security guarantees from the United States in this respect," Hossein Mousavian, head of foreign policy of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, was quoted as saying. READ MORE

Reports have emerged recently that during the latest round of negotiations Iran had sought the EU's help to get US security guarantees.

Last month, Washington categorically rejected a call by UN nuclear watchdog chief Mohamed ElBaradei, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), that it should give Iran security assurances in return for an end to Tehran's alleged efforts to develop a nuclear bomb.

"The security concerns raised in the negotiations with the European partners focus on the strategic region of the Middle East," Mousavian added.

Mousavian said Iran had not invited the United States to directly take part in the nuclear talks with the EU but had announced several times that it had no objection to a US participation. ...