Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Iran and the international diplomatic bloc - five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P+1) - started a new round of talks on Tehran's nuclear energy program in Geneva, Press TV reported.

Iran and the P+1 group agreed to hold another round of talks in Switzerland at a meeting in New York.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, who is leading a high-ranking Iranian delegation of political, technical and legal experts, told reporters upon arrival in Geneva on Monday, that the New York talks [in September] were an announcement of the two sides' political will to resolve the nuclear issue and we think that the delegations of both sides were ready to reach a quick solution through negotiations at the foreign ministerial level.

"We believe that the nuclear issue can be resolved in one year and Iran's nuclear issue can turn into an ordinary matter in the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) provided that the opposite side has goodwill," Zarif stated.

The West suspects Tehran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear weapons capability, but Iran insists it is purely for peaceful purposes.

Tehran has rejected the allegations, arguing that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to developing nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu said on the eve of nuclear talks in Geneva that it would be a "historic mistake" to ease pressure on Iran over its nuclear program right now.

Opening parliament's winter session, Netanyahu said Israel must "keep up the pressure" on Iran, "particularly at this moment".

Netanyahu's comments were backed up by intelligence minister Yuval Steinitz, who called on the main powers in the Geneva talks to maintain pressure on Iran.

Steinitz said it was the effect of sanctions, and the subsequent fact the "Iranian economy is in very bad shape", that was driving the Iranians to come to the talks.

"The dilemma will be crystal clear to them - that if they want to save their economy, they need to give up their nuclear project," he said.

However in the US - which has also shown a tough stance against lifting sanctions on Iran - nine leading senators said they were open to the idea of suspending new sanctions if Tehran took significant steps to slow its nuclear program.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, the senators - both Democrats and Republicans - said the US should consider a plan of "suspension for suspension", in which Iran would suspend its nuclear enrichment program and Washington would suspend new sanctions.

However the senators - who include the influential Republicans John McCain and Lindsey Graham - emphasized that, in the meantime, the threat of military force should remain, and pressure should be kept up against Iran.

Furthermore, head spokesman of foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton, Michael Mann said that the sanctions can be lifted off Iran only if the country takes real steps regarding the nuclear program.

According to him, sanctions aim to make Iran clarify some questions about its nuclear program.

"The reason for the sanctions to be lifted can only be the real changes in the negotiating process," Mann said.

These are the first such talks since Iranian President Hassan Rouhani took office in August.

Iran has been negotiating with the P5+1 group since 2006, because it wants UN sanctions against it to be lifted.

The international diplomatic bloc negotiating with Tehran, last met with Iran in early April, two months before Iranian president Hassan Rouhani's electoral victory.