Iran prez candidates snipe at N-talks tactics

Tehran (AFP): Candidates vying for Iran's presidency clashed on Friday in a heated televised exchange over nuclear talks with world powers, with pointed criticism aimed at top nuclear negotiator and hardline candidate Saeed Jalili. Leading Iran's nuclear negotiating team, Jalili represents Khamenei in talks with the P5+1 countries � the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany.

The debate, the last of three before the June 14 election, focused on foreign policy, with the nuclear issue stealing the spotlight. "The current negotiations that are underway are definitely flawed," said Ali Akbar Velayati, a conservative candidate who, like Jalili, is seen as close to Khamenei. "If it was not flawed, we would not be in this situation," he said. Jalili's negotiating style was also criticised by another candidate, Hassan Rowhani, who headed a relatively moderate nuclear negotiating team under reformist president Mohammad Khatami in the early 2000s. "Those with experience who can negotiate with logic should be put in charge of the nuclear case," Rowhani said. His call was echoed by conservative hopeful Mohsen Rezai, ex-commander of the Revolutionary Guards, who urged immediate results in talks with world powers. "World powers delay (the talks) so the effects of sanctions pile up. And then we call this resistance?" he asked, in an allusion to Jalili's promise of continuing his tactics if elected.