World powers, Iran satisfied with talks in Geneva
By Sara Rajabova
After the new round of talks with Iran the six world powers expressed consent from the negotiation and new proposals presented by Iran.
The White House has praised Iran's "seriousness" during the two-day nuclear talks between Tehran and six world powers, namely the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany.
"We found the Iranian presentation very useful," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said on October 16. "The Iranian proposal was a new proposal with a level of seriousness and substance that we had not seen before."
He, however, added that no one should expect an "overnight" breakthrough in the nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers.
The top U.S. negotiator Wendy Sherman also called the negotiations "detailed" and "substantive."
Also, the German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle said the latest negotiations held between Iran and six world powers are the start of "serious" and "substantive" talks over Iran's nuclear energy program.
Westerwelle said that the negotiations boosted hopes for a diplomatic solution to the standoff over Iran's civilian nuclear work, calling for the negotiations to move forward swiftly
Iran and the six powers wrapped up two days of talks over Iran's nuclear energy program in Geneva, Switzerland, on October 16.
The two sides have agreed to meet again in the Swiss city on November 7-8.
Following the talks, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a press conference that the negotiations "will hopefully be the beginning of a new phase" in the country's relations with the six powers.
He further described the talks as "extensive" and "fruitful," but did not elaborate on the details.
EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also hailed the nuclear talks as the "most detailed" and most "substantive" ones ever held between the two sides.
She added that the six world powers are carefully considering a proposal offered by Iran at the talks, but noted that both sides have agreed not to disclose the details of Tehran's proposal, which she described as an "important contribution."
Zarif presented Iran's proposal titled "Closing an Unnecessary Crisis, Opening a New Horizon" to the six countries during a closed-door meeting on October 15.
The West suspects Tehran's nuclear program may be aimed at developing nuclear weapons capability.
Iran insists that its nuclear program is purely for peaceful purposes and reiterates that its main demand is that its right to uranium enrichment, as stipulated in the NPT agreement, be recognized.
Iran and the P5+1 -- the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany -- have held several rounds of talks on a range of issues, with the main focus being on Iran's nuclear energy program.