Iran, P5+1 start new round of nuclear talks
A new round of talks on Iran's disputed nuclear programme kicked
off in Geneva on November 7, Press TV reported.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif sounded a note of
optimism ahead of the talks, saying he thought a deal could be
within reach.
"I believe it is even possible to reach that agreement this week,"
Zarif told France 24 television on Tuesday. "But I can only talk
for our side, I cannot talk for the other side."
The meeting is the second since President Hassan Rouhani took
office in August pledging to resolve the nuclear dispute and lift
sanctions by engaging with world powers.
Last month's talks in Geneva - held in English for the first time -
saw Iran reportedly outline a two-stage process that would resolve
the dispute within a year.
Speaking to journalists in Geneva on the eve of the talks, a senior
US official said Washington is willing to offer Iran limited
sanctions relief if it agrees to take a "first step" to stop
advancing its nuclear programme, AP reported.
"What we're looking for now is a first phase, a first step, an
initial understanding that stops Iran's nuclear programme from
moving forward... and that potentially rolls some of it back," said
the official, speaking on condition of anonymity.
"We are prepared to offer limited, targeted and reversible
sanctions relief. We are not talking about touching the core
architecture of the Iranian sanctions regime in this first step,"
the official said.
The official refused to give details of the offers on the table,
but said the first stage would "put time on the clock" to negotiate
a final agreement.
World powers are represented at the talks by the so-called P5+1,
the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- Britain,
China, France, Russia and the United States -- plus Germany.
The group has held years of talks with Tehran on its uranium
enrichment, which Western powers suspect may be aimed at developing
nuclear weapons.
Iran has repeatedly denied this, insisting its nuclear programme is
only for generating electricity and for medical purposes.
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