Iran-Powers Intensive N. Talks to Continue for Third Day
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Senior diplomats representing Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as P5+1 or E3+3) are preparing to start the third day of the fresh round of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Geneva today.
Talks over Tehran’s nuclear program are to enter the third day in Geneva as Michael Mann, the spokesman of EU foreign policy chief, said in his Twitter page on Thursday evening that representatives of Iran and the six major world powers (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) wrapped up a day of “intense, substantial and detailed negotiations” on Thursday.
He also noted that the negotiations over the past two days have been held in “good atmosphere”, adding that talks are to be continued on Friday, with a bilateral meeting between the Iranian foreign minister and the EU foreign policy chief at 9 am Geneva time.
The fresh round of talks began on Wednesday with a meeting between Iran’s foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, who represents the six world powers in talks with Iran.
The two top negotiators have held several meetings over the past two days, with the aim of reaching an agreement to help end the 10-year standoff over Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.
The negotiating sides have agreed to resume the nuclear talks in bilateral meetings between different delegations, at the level of deputy chief negotiators.
Meanwhile, Iran’s deputy foreign minister and top negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, told reporters on Thursday night that not any progress has been achieved in the talks so far.
He also noted that representatives of the G5+1 members are going to hold consultations with the capitals of their respective countries to coordinate the issues.
This is the second time in a month that the Swiss city of Geneva is hosting representatives from Iran and the group of six major world powers. They had three days of intensive talks on November 7-9.
During the previous round of talks, the two sides managed to narrow their differences on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, though there were hitches that stopped them from reaching an interim deal at the end of the talks.
