Mann: Progress in New York Talks “Key” to Final Iran Nuclear Deal
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Any headway Iran and six world powers could make in the negotiations now underway in New York will greatly help them hammer out a final, comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear program, said Michael Mann, spokesman for EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton.
“Making progress during this week (is the) key to reach a comprehensive agreement before 24 November deadline,” Mann said on his twitter account on Wednesday.
He also noted that the nuclear talks between Iran and the six powers (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are “continuing at all levels” in New York, on the sidelines of the 69th annual session of the United Nations General Assembly.
The spokesman further noted that the fresh round of negotiations is aimed at “making progress on core issues of a potential comprehensive solution focusing in particular on enrichment and sanctions relief.”
Nuclear negotiators representing Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3) started a new round of talks on Tehran’s civilian nuclear work in New York on Friday.
The negotiations are expected to run until at least September 26 on the sidelines of the annual gathering of world leaders at the UN General Assembly.
Iran and the six nations on November 24, 2013, signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Based on the interim deal, the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and to impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran's decision to freeze parts of its nuclear activities.
In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal.
