TEHRAN, March 27 (UPI) -- The U.S. government must back its rhetoric with action if it wants to open communication with Iran, a senior Iranian legislator said.
The U.S. government is party to multilateral talks with Iran as a permanent U.N. Security Council member. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said last week "there is an opportunity to work diplomatically to reduce tensions and address the mistrust between our two countries, to the mutual benefit of both of our people."
Iranian lawmaker Mohammad Ali Pourmokhtar said the United States could lift some sanctions on Iran to improve relations.
"The United States must end its enmity with the Islamic Republic of Iran," he was quoted by Iran's Press TV as saying. "Otherwise, its offers of direct talks would be nothing more than a deception."
Iran is suspected of pursuing the technology needed to manufacture a nuclear weapon, an allegation Tehran denies. The government described February negotiations in Kazakhstan as positive, though no breakthroughs were announced.
Negotiations between Iran, the five permanent members of the Security Council and Germany are scheduled for April in Kazakhstan.
