Iran, six powers continue nuclear talks in Vienna
By Sara Rajabova
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany continue the nuclear negotiations at the expert-level.
The sides started a new round of expert-level nuclear talks on March 5 in Vienna.
The experts from Iran and the six countries are working to hammer out a comprehensive deal following a landmark nuclear accord reached in Geneva last November. On the first day of the talks, the experts discussed uranium enrichment, Arak heavy-water reactor in central Iran, and peaceful nuclear cooperation with the country.
Head of Iran's team Hamid Ba'eedinejad said on March 7 the ongoing talks are "serious and substantive."
Ba'eedinejad, who is also the director general for political and international affairs at Iran's Foreign Ministry, told IRNA agency that both sides view the first two days of talks as "useful."
He said all participating countries have attended the meetings with their entire expert teams, adding that negotiations would continue for the third day on March 7.
Iran's foreign minister says Mohammad Javad Zarif said recently Tehran is serious in its efforts to reach a final comprehensive agreement with the world powers over its nuclear energy program.
He said Tehran is pressing ahead with talks with the world powers based on political will and out of good faith.
Following the expert-level negotiations, the next round of the high-level talks between Iran and the P5+1 is to be held in Vienna on March 17.
The Geneva deal took effect on January 20. Under the deal, the six countries group undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period. Based on the agreement that took effect on January 20, it was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.