Iran Says Zarif, Kerry Discuss Upcoming Nuclear Talks
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The Iranian Foreign Ministry announced that Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his US counterpart John Kerry conferred on the upcoming nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers due to be held in Vienna later this month.
Zarif and Kerry had a meeting this morning on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
The Iranian Foreign Ministry at the same time stressed that media reports and speculations about the content of the two ministers' visit is "inaccurate and not confirmed."
Iranian foreign minister confirmed on Friday that Tehran and the six major world powers are set to hold a fresh round of nuclear negotiations in the Austrian capital of Vienna on February 18.
After days of speculations and unconfirmed reports about a specific venue and date for the next round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany), Zarif told reporters in Germany’s Munich on Friday that the talks are slated for February 18, in Austria.
The Iranian foreign minister made the remarks after a meeting with the European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, on the sidelines of the 50th Munich Security Conference.
The European Union liaises with Iran on behalf of the six world powers in diplomatic efforts related to Tehran's nuclear case.
“At the meeting with Ms. Ashton we agreed to hold the next round of Iran’s nuclear talks with the G5+1 in Vienna on February 18,” Zarif said.
On November 24, 2013, Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as P5+1 or E3+3) signed a six-month deal on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva after several rounds of tight negotiations.
Based on the interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action), 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 suspend its 20% enrichment for a period of six months.
The breakthrough deal, 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.
