TEHRAN (FNA)- A source close to Iran's negotiating team categorically rejected a news report by the New York Times about a new US proposal for disconnecting Iran's centrifuge cascades instead of reducing their number as "media ballyhoo to ruin the atmosphere of the negotiations".
"There has been a positive and constructive atmosphere in the negotiations in recent days, and although the differences on basic issues are still persistent, the two sides are trying to reduce the differences; but unfortunately some media are trying to disrupt the positive atmosphere of the talks through ballyhoo," the source, who asked to remain unnamed, told FNA on Monday evening.

The New York Times alleged in a Friday report that American negotiators in the multilateral talks with Iran have  proposed a deal to Iran which would allow the country to keep the 19,000 centrifuges, but the pipes leading to the machines would be cut off, preventing the uranium from reaching them for further enrichment.

The source said the New York Times report quoting some American sources is nothing but a fabrication of realities, and added, "The New York Times report lacks a correct understanding of the stances of the Americans in the talks."

"It is interesting that some US Senators have even been provoked by this report and criticized (US President Barack) Obama in a letter to him," he added.

"Such reports do not at all correspond to the content of the negotiations (between Iran and the world powers) and are released to damage the atmosphere reining the talks through hue and cry," the source reiterated.

The Associated Press also quoted unnamed diplomatic sources on Saturday as confirming the New York Times report.

The 7th round of talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) started in New York on Friday.

The two sides held six rounds of negotiations in Vienna to reach a comprehensive deal after they inked an interim agreement in Geneva on November 24.

The Geneva agreement took effect on January 20 and expired six months later on July 20. In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 after they failed to reach an agreement on a number of key issues.

By Fars News Agency

 

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