Iran seeks to allay world concern on nuclear issue

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Friday his country wants to allay international concerns over its controversial nuclear programme, widely suspected of hiding efforts to build a bomb.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Friday his country wants to allay international concerns over its controversial nuclear programme, widely suspected of hiding efforts to build a bomb.

Two technicians help produce zirconium at the Isfahan nuclear facility in central Iran, on March 30, 2005.

Zarif, a moderate whose ministry was tasked Thursday by President Hassan Rowhani to handle Tehran's negotiations with world powers, said "there are two principles in the nuclear domain -- first and foremost, respect for our rights in matters of nuclear technology, especially the enrichment of uranium.

"Following that is to allay international concerns" on the atomic programme.