Technical issues on Tehran’s nuclear program on agenda
By Sara Rajabova
Iran and the P5+1 group kicked off the new round of the expert-level talks over Tehran nuclear program in Vienna on April 3.
Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said all technical issues concerning Tehran's nuclear energy program will be discussed in this round of the expert-level talks between Iran and the six world powers, IRNA reported.
Referring to the Arak heavy water plant in central Iran, Araqchi, who is also a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator, said this issue, along with its technical aspects is one of the technical issues the details of which will be discussed by the experts.
Araqchi also added that the expert-level negotiations are held within the framework of the final step of the Geneva deal for reaching a comprehensive solution.
The talks between Tehran and the six countries are part of efforts to seal a final deal on Iran's nuclear energy program.
The two sides reached an interim deal on November 24, 2013 in Geneva to set the stage for the full settlement of the dispute over Iran's nuclear energy program.
Meanwhile, Iran's ambassador to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Reza Najafi said referring to the Thursday session between expert teams representing Iran and the six countries that the session lasted six hours and "the two sides expressed their views and ideas clearly."
Under the Geneva deal, the six countries agreed 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. It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.
China, France, Russia, the UK and the U.S, which are the five permanent members of the UN Security Council, along with Germany, held high-level nuclear talks with Iran on March 18-19.
The two sides are set to resume their high-level negotiations on April 7-9.