Iran, Sextet to Start 2nd Day of Nuclear Talks in Vienna


Iran, Sextet to Start 2nd Day of Nuclear Talks in Vienna

VIENNA (Tasnim) - Senior diplomats representing Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) are preparing to start the second day of the fresh round of negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program in the Austrian capital today.

This is the fourth time since February that Vienna, home to one of the four headquarters of the United Nations, is hosting representatives from Iran and the group of six major world powers.

They have launched a decisive phase of diplomacy on Wednesday to draft a lasting accord, meant to end years of Western standoff over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.

After three rounds of talks following a landmark but interim deal in Geneva, the sides are to set about devising a comprehensive package to reach consensus on a range of sticking points.

They have inked a six-month deal on Tehran’s nuclear activities in Switzerland on November 24, 2013.

The interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action), which has come into force 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 the Islamic Republic.

Earlier on Wednesday, the negotiating parties held the first session of nuclear talks here in Vienna.

A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates diplomacy with Iran on behalf of the six, said negotiators held a "useful initial discussion" on Wednesday morning. "We are now hoping to move to a new phase...in which we will start pulling together what the outline of an agreement could be. All sides are highly committed," Michael Mann said.

Later on Wednesday evening, Iranian foreign minister and chief negotiator, Mohammad Javad Zarif, resumed discussions with Ashton in a two-hour bilateral meeting to start drafting the text of a final comprehensive deal.

The Austrian capital also saw delegates conducting technical discussions during Wednesday evening. And now, the negotiating parties are slated to convene another plenary session on Thursday.

A Western official close to the talks said on Wednesday that "progress is being made but all pieces have to fit together".

"Nothing is agreed yet," the official said on condition of anonymity.

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