Nuke talks ‘fruitless’ due to sanctions, says Iranian candidate
Mohsen Rezaei, ex-Revolutionary Guards commander tied to 1994 Buenos Aires bombing, says he’ll change course of dialogue if elected
Add ToI as a Preferred Source on Google
TEHRAN, Iran (AP) — A former commander in Iran’s Revolutionary Guard who was allegedly involved with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Argentina and is now running for president says current nuclear talks between Tehran and world powers are at a hopeless deadlock.
Mohsen Rezaei vowed at a news conference Tuesday to change the dialogue’s course, calling the present effort “fruitless” because of tightening international sanctions.
The comments by Rezaei reflect some of the most hard-line positions among the candidates, but he gave no details on his proposals. Rezaei is wanted by Interpol and Argentinian authorities in connection with the 1994 bombing of the AMIA Jewish Center in Buenos Aires, in which 85 people were killed.
Iran’s nuclear program is a central issue in the June 14 election to pick a successor for President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. All eight hopefuls — who include Iran’s top nuclear negotiator — back Tehran’s nuclear program, but differ on strategies for talks with the five permanent UN Security Council plus Germany.
The West fears Iran is seeking weapon technology — a charge Iran denies.
Gavriel Fiske contributed to this report.
The Times of Israel Community.