Technical Experts from Iran, World Powers to Meet Early March: Ashton
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday said technical experts from Iran and the sextet of world powers will meet in early March.
Technical experts would meet in early March, before the meeting of political directors on March 17, Ashton told reporters in a joint press conference with Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
The press conference was held after Iran and representatives from the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, France, Britain and China plus Germany) ended their last day of talks in Vienna, Austria, on Thursday.
Ashton said the six world powers and Iran made a good start during very productive talks this week on Iran’s nuclear program.
“We had three very productive days during which we identified all the issues we need to address (to reach a final agreement). There is a lot to do. It won't be easy but we’ve made a good start,” Ashton stated.
In their three-day negotiations, Iran and G5+1 (also known as P5+1 or E3+3) discussed the priorities for the future negotiations and working out a framework for an ultimate and comprehensive agreement on Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.
It was the first round of high-level negotiations since a November interim deal, clinched between Iran and the G5+1.
On November 24, 2013, the two sides signed an interim six-month deal on Tehran’s nuclear program in the Swiss city of Geneva.
The breakthrough deal (the Joint Plan of Action), which has come into effect since January 20, stipulates that over the course of six months, Iran and the six countries will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on Iran.
