Iran's FM, US Counterpart to Meet in Geneva Saturday
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US counterpart are scheduled to hold a meeting in Geneva, Switzerland, on May 30 as part of the ongoing negotiations between Tehran and world powers over the country's nuclear energy program.
In his Wednesday daily briefing, Spokesman for US Department of State Jeff Rathke announced that Secretary of State John Kerry will travel to Geneva on Saturday to meet with Iran's Zarif as part of the EU-coordinated nuclear negotiations.
Kerry's participation in the nuclear talks will come as his deputy and senior US negotiator Undersecretary of State Wendy Sherman on Wednesday joined the new round of diplomatic talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, US, Britain, France, and Germany), which is underway in Vienna, Austria.
The negotiations are aimed at drafting the text of the comprehensive accord on Tehran's peaceful nuclear program, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Iranian deputies foreign minister, Abbas Araqchi and Majid Takht Ravanchi, have been in talks with European Union Deputy Foreign Policy Chief Helga Schmid in the Austrian capital since Tuesday.
On Wednesday, Araqchi announced that representatives of other six countries may join the talks on Thursday, but for the time being, Iran is holding talks with Ms. Schmid.
The EU coordinates diplomacy with Iran on behalf of the Group 5+1 (also known as P5+1 or E3+3).
On April 2, Iran and the world powers reached a framework nuclear agreement in Lausanne, Switzerland, with both sides committed to push for a final deal until the end of June.
In his Wednesday remarks, Araqchi did not reject the possibility that the talks would go beyond the self-imposed June 30 deadline, saying that Iran is "not bound to time" in the ongoing talks, but seeks to sign a "good deal" that takes into account all of the country's concerns.
