Secretary of Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Ali Larijani said here Saturday that talks have been going on with Russia to purchase Tor-M1 missile for a while and that it is not a secret.

Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of his meeting with the Secretary General of Iraq's Fazilat Party Nadeem al-Jaberi, he added that Iran sells arms to some countries and buys them from others and that there is no need to explain such transactions.

Responding to a question whether the remarks of new German foreign minister that his country is awaiting Iran's response about openly accepting the nuclear fuel cycle means that Europe is skeptical about negotiation with Iran, he said that undoubtedly there should be a distinction between the declared policies and those practiced.

On the date of Iran-EU negotiation, he said that it is expected to start within the coming weeks and that the relevant details would be announced in two weeks.

In reply to another question about the participation of Russia in the upcoming negotiations, he said that there has been no proposal for increasing the number of participants.

About the possibility of Iran's bringing up such a proposal in the future meeting with EU, he said that such a proposal would certainly be submitted, but refrained from providing further explanation.

Turning to the content of his letter to the EU3 and whether it should remain secret, Larijani noted that it would be revealed in due course and that it does not contain any complicated issues.

On the US participation in the nuclear talks, he said, "It is significant to us to restore the rights of the Iranians in a peaceful way. We have taken some steps in this regard and will continue doing so. We are determined to do our best and take any reasonable measure to this end.

"We should first identify the difficulty and the way to solve it.

Iran's nuclear problem is not complicated and our expectation is not extraordinary. We believe that we are entitled to the same rights as enjoyed by Japan, South Korea and many other countries."
He noted, "Since Iran has signed the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and wish to have a nuclear fuel cycle, we will do our best to this effect.

"Therefore, we expect the international community not to deprive us of such an opportunity. It is quite obvious to Iran `how fast the time is passing'.

"We will wait for a while and will proceed patiently. However, we shall make decision according to the future conditions. It is important to attain our rights peacefully. We have taken some steps to this effect and will continue doing so."
About the participation of the foreign private and state sectors in the country's enrichment process, Larijani said that following the remarks of President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in the UN General Assembly annual meeting, such a proposal was made in order to do away with the excuses brought up about transparency of Iran's nuclear activities.

Asked whether any regulations have been drawn up by the SNSC about the procedure of such participation, he said, "Some regulations have been drawn up by IAEA for domestic and foreign private/government sectors, which will be announced. They are likely to get some percentage for such cooperation."
In response to a question about the latest provocations against Iran's nuclear activities by the US and Israel, he said that this is insignificant and that this has been going on in the past.

"Whenever the process of negotiation about the country's nuclear issue becomes constructive, such reactions are not unusual. Such moves are mere propaganda.

"In future, talks will be held with a number of European as well as some other countries including Russia, China and the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) member states," he added.

Turning to the right for access to peaceful nuclear technology as the basic principle for Iran, he noted that negotiation on the issue can certainly be fruitful and that this will be one way to follow-up the case.

"We initiated the resumption of nuclear talks with the European countries and believe that enrichment process, the nuclear fuel cycle and production of the relevant fuel will be on the agenda of such talks in future," he concluded.