Iran, P5+1 to hold new nuclear talks in January
By Sara Rajabova
Representatives from Iran and P5+1 group will hold next round of nuclear talks in 2015.
Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, Iranian nuclear negotiator and Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairssaid the next round of nuclear talks between Tehran and the P5+1 group will also be held at the deputy level, Iranian media reported.
Araqchi made the remarks after nuclear negotiators from Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain and the United States - plus Germany wrapped up theirtalks on Iran’s nuclear energy program in the Swiss city of Geneva on December 17.
Following the negotiations, Sergey Ryabkov, Russian Deputy Foreign Ministersaid the talks between Tehran and the group of six international mediators look very promising as the sides continued bridging their differences, RIA Novosti reported.
"In general, we have accomplished a lot in all aspects, and even in areas where the differences still remain. We will continue to come closer in our positions," Ryabkov, who is Russia's envoy at the talks, said.
Ryabkov also added that the sides agreed on the next round of negotiations at the level of deputy foreign ministers in mid-January, noting that the place of talks is still being coordinated with the Iranian delegation.
During the discussions, which began on December 15, deputy foreign ministers and experts from Iran sat down for bilateral nuclear talks with delegations from the U.S.,France, Russia, and China separately.
Deputy foreign ministers from Iran, Germany, Britain and France also held quartet talks on Tehran's nuclear program.
Despite making progress, Iran and the P5+1 group failed to clinch a final nuclear deal during their previous talks in the Austrian capital of Vienna.
However, the two sides agreed to extend their discussions for other seven months until July 1, 2015. They also agreed that the interim deal they had signed in Geneva last November remain in place during the negotiations.
The U.S. and EU imposed sanctions on Iran's oil and financial sectors at the beginning of 2012 due to claims of potential deviation toward non-civilian purposes in Iran's nuclear energy program. Iran has repeatedly denied the Western allegations against its nuclear energy program.