Iran to Develop Nuclear Program Despite Possible Expansion of US Sanctions

Tehran's nuclear energy program will not be derailed by new US restrictions, Iran's chief negotiator with the P5+1 group said.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — Iran will continue to develop its nuclear program even if the United States introduces more sanctions against the country, which could change the nature of the nuclear talks, the Iranian Foreign Ministry's political and international affairs director general told Radio Sputnik on Thursday.

"There are individuals with radical views in US Congress and there are authorities that could introduce new sanctions against Iran. This is what our primary concern is," Hamid Baidinejad, who is also Iran's chief negotiator at the nuclear talks with the P5+1 group of international mediators, said.

"Iran will still keep developing its nuclear program," Baidinejad said.

He said that if the United States and other Western countries showed willingness to negotiate again some time in the future, they will have to deal with a country whose nuclear power would be even greater than now.

The negotiator pointed out that the P5+1 group, comprising Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Germany, and Iran were making every effort to reach an agreement on the nature of the country's nuclear program.

Tehran's nuclear program has long been a matter of concern for international community, with P5+1 states aiming to ensure the peaceful nature of the program. In November 2013, Iran and the P5+1 group only managed to reach an interim agreement.

At November 2014 talks in Vienna, the negotiating parties again failed to work out a comprehensive deal, agreeing instead to extend the deadline for reaching an agreement to July 2015.