Negotiator: Date, Venue for Iran-Sextet Talks Not Finalized Yet


Negotiator: Date, Venue for Iran-Sextet Talks Not Finalized Yet

TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A senior Iranian negotiator engaged in nuclear talks with the six major world powers said the two sides are yet to decide on specific venue and date for the next round of talks.

Iran's deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs and one of the country’s top nuclear negotiators, Abbas Araqchi, announced on Monday evening that Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) have not yet arrived at a final decision on when and where to hold the next round of negotiations.

“The consultations are in progress to determine the date and venue for the negotiations,” Araqchi added.

Earlier in the day, an informed source at the Iranian foreign ministry had said Tehran and the six major world powers are set to hold a fresh round of nuclear negotiations in New York later in February.

Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as P5+1 or E3+3) are slated to hold a fresh round of talks over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program in mid-February.

Meanwhile, the source had told the Tasnim News Agency that the US city of New York will host the upcoming negotiations.

The agreement on the resumption of nuclear negotiations in February was reached following a meeting between Iranian Foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and the European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, on the sidelines of the 44th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Switzerland.

The European Union liaises with Iran on behalf of six world powers in diplomatic efforts related to Tehran's nuclear case.

“During the next meeting in New York to reach a final agreement, decisions will be made about the agenda for the negotiations, the level and the way to continue the talks in order to reach an eventual agreement,” the source said.

It also added the upcoming talks will be attended by Foreign Minister Zarif as the head of the Iranian negotiating team, EU’s Ashton, as well as the representatives of the G5+1 members.

Tehran and the world powers had on November 24 reached a six-month deal on Iran’s nuclear program. The breakthrough deal, which has come into effect since January 20, stipulates that over the course of six months, Iran and the six countries will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on Iran.

Top Nuclear stories
Top Stories