Iran, six world powers hold nuclear talks on second day
By Sara Rajabova
Iran and P5+1 held negotiations over Tehran's nuclear program on the second day of high-level talks.
The spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton described the latest meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif as "constructive."
Michael Mann wrote on his Twitter page that Ashton held "constructive" talks with Zarif to "prepare today's nuclear talks" between Iran and the P5+1 group - Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany- in Vienna on March 18, Press TV reported.
Iran and the other six countries resumed their nuclear discussions in Vienna on March 17 in an effort to work out a permanent agreement aimed at resolving the decade-old dispute over the Islamic Republic's nuclear energy program.
On the first day of the talks, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, also a top nuclear negotiator, met with Helga Schmid, Ashton's deputy. The two sides reached an agreement on the agenda of the new talks.
Negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group are to focus on uranium enrichment and Arak heavy water reactor. The two sides will also "exchange views on peaceful nuclear cooperation and sanctions," Zarif said.
The new round of negotiations follows earlier discussions in Vienna which ended on February 20.
The Iranian foreign minister had earlier said Iran does not expect the two sides to reach a final accord in their new round of talks in Vienna.
Iran and its negotiating partners inked an interim accord in Geneva in November 2013, which took effect on January 20. Under the deal, the P5+1 undertook to provide Iran with some sanction relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.
It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.
Meanwhile, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said there is good reason to hope that the new round of nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers will bring about progress.
Everyone is in the working mood and there is reason to hope that progress will be achieved, but without crucial agreements since this is only the second round, Ryabkov said.
China also offered to help to push the talks over Tehran's nuclear program forward.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said Beijing is ready to make joint efforts with the relevant parties to push the new round of nuclear negotiations forward.
He further noted that talks on Iran's nuclear energy program are entering an important new stage.