Iran official says sanctions can’t change nuke policy

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif says Tehran won’t give up its nuclear rights

TEHRAN, Iran — Iran’s new foreign minister says that Western sanctions can’t force Iran to change its policy on its nuclear program, though the administration of the country’s new president is taking a new approach in reaching out to the West.

Mohammad Javad Zarif told Iranian state television in an interview aired Thursday night that the new government of President Hasan Rouhani won’t give up Iran’s nuclear rights in negotiations with world powers.

Western sanctions over targeting Iran’s oil and banking sectors have savaged the country’s economy.

Zarif is set to lead Iran’s nuclear talks with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany. However, he told state television no final decision has been made about who will lead the talks.

Copyright 2013 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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