News / Nuclear Energy

Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks useful, serious: EU

Monday, 19 January 2015 7:20 AM [ Last Update: Monday, 19 January 2015 7:21 AM ]

The representatives of Iran and the P5+1 countries pose for a picture during their meeting in Vienna, Austria, November 24, 2014.

The European Union (EU) has described as “serious and useful” the latest round of the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

Negotiators from Tehran and the P5+1 - France, Britain, the US, Russia and China, plus Germany - met with Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi for a day of talks as part of “ongoing diplomatic efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue,” the EU said in a statement on Sunday.

“They had serious and useful meetings chaired by EU political director Helga Schmid,” read the statement, adding that the two sides “decided to meet again in early February.”

The political directors of Iran and the P5+1 states wrapped up their talks on the Iranian nuclear program in Geneva, Switzerland, as the two sides are making intensive efforts to narrow their differences and ink a comprehensive deal.

Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is a senior negotiator of his country, said Sunday that representatives of Iran and the six countries conducted “very useful” negotiations in Geneva.

“The meeting was very useful. We had detailed discussions. The talks will soon be resumed,” he said.

Araqchi has also described the Geneva discussions as “good” and “extensive,” saying, “We reviewed all subjects on the table and we had very serious and business-like negotiations.”

Last November, when the two sides failed to reach a deal by a self-imposed November 24 deadline, they decided to extend their talks for seven more months until July 1, with the interim deal they had signed in Geneva in November 2013 remaining in place.

Tehran and the six countries now seek to reach a high-level political agreement by March 1 and then confirm the full technical details of the agreement by July 1.

YH/HJL/HRB

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk

Iran