Iranian Nuclear Negotiators Back to Tehran
Tehran – The Iranian nuclear negotiations team returned to Tehran from Muscat Wednesday morning.
The team headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif was in Oman for talks with the US Secretary of State John Kerry and the European Union Coordinator for Nuclear talks Catherine Ashton.
The ninth round of inclusive talks began Tuesday between Iran and the P5+1 officials after two days of intensive trilateral talks.
Iran’s Foreign Ministry deputies Abbas Araqchi and MajidTakht-e-Ravanchi exchanged views over remaing topics with their counterparts from the six world powers (US, Britain, Russia, France and China plus Germany).
The talks focused on the remaining differences about Iran’s nuclear program including the size of Iran’s enrichment activities, removal of Western sanctions against Iran and duration of nuclear agreement.
The negotiating parties tried to reach a comprehensive agreement within the remaining 13 days before the end of a deadline which expires on November 24.
The next round of nuclear talks will be held in Vienna, Austria.
Zarif downgrades impact of sanctions on Iranian resolve
Meanwhile in Muscat on Tuesday,Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif downgraded impacts of sanctions on resolve of the Iranian nation to protect their right to peaceful nuclear technology.
In a meeting in Muscat with Omani Deputy Prime Minister Fahd bin Mahmoud, Zarif said Iran is seriously seeking to help find a solution to the unwarranted nuclear crisis and has entered the talks with good faith.
The Omani deputy prime minister, for his part, expressed hope that nuclear talks between Iran and the Western governments underway in Oman would yield good results.
Fahd bin Mahmoud said a possible nuclear deal with Iran would benefit everyone.
During the meeting, the two sides also underlined the need for enhanced relations between Tehran and Muscat.
The two officials said that increased cooperation between the two Persian Gulf states would help regional cooperation serving mutual interests.
Nuclear talks to continue at deputy FMs level
On the other hand,visiting Deputy Foreign Minister of Iran Abbas Araqchi said Monday evening that nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 will be held on Tuesday at the deputy foreign ministers level.
Araqchi added that Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif and the European Union nuclear coordinator Catherine Ashton will also be present in the talks.
Speaking to reporters, the Iranian diplomat said, “Primary consultations will be held with Russia and China while talks with the European countries (France, Britain and Germany) will be in the form of group or bilateral meetings or both forms.”
“It is possible that bilateral talks with the US delegation continue on Tuesday either with or without the presence of a third party,” Araqchi stressed.
He noted nuclear talks will go on in Oman as long as it is deemed necessary.
IRNA
R.S