Turkey calls for nuclear assurances urges from Iran

Foreign Minister Ahmet Davutoglu yesterday called on Iran to offer assurances that it won't seek nuclear weapons, while stressing that all countries have the right to the peaceful use of nuclear energy. Davutoglu's remarks came at a joint press conference with visiting Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, ahead of a new round of nuclear negotiations starting today between six world powers and Tehran in Istanbul. For his part, Lavrov said world powers should hold out the possibility of rolling back sanctions in talks with Iran over its nuclear program, while also urging Iran to allow inspection of its nuclear sites. "If we can agree on the perspectives for future talks, this will be a good result," Lavrov said. "The approach of Russia and the other participants is that the focus of the debate ought to be Iran's nuclear program and resolving the unresolved problems in this program. But this meeting doesn't have just one topic. Ending the sanctions against Iran should also be discussed." Davutoglu also announced that an agreement to lift visa requirements between Turkey and Russia will soon be finalized at an intergovernmental meeting between the Black Sea neighbors. Last year, the presidents and prime ministers of the two countries agreed to mutually lift visa requirements, Davutoglu said.