Iran, G5+1 Envoys Resume Talks in Switzerland
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – The second round of negotiations between Iran and the six world powers kicked off in Geneva at the level of deputy foreign minister Tuesday evening, while neither the Iranian foreign minister nor the European Union foreign policy chief were present at the meeting.
On Tuesday afternoon Iranian officials and representatives of the G5+1, made up of Britain, China, France, Russia and the US plus Germany, held the second session of their talks on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Unlike the morning meeting, this session took place in the absence of Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
The Iranian team for the October 15-16 talks includes Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi, Director General for International Political Affairs Hamid Baeedinejad, Legal Advisor to Foreign Minister Davoud Mohammadnia and Mohammad Amiri from the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI).
And in the absence of the Iranian foreign minister, his deputy, Abbas Araqchi,leads the Iranian delegation.
In a press conference after conclusion of the morning meeting, Araqchi said the first session of talks between Iran and the six world powers were held in a positive atmosphere, adding that both sides expressed their willingness to advance negotiations.
Furthermore, Spokesman of EU foreign policy chief also said the talks were taking place in a positive atmosphere. Michael Mann said the G5+1 was looking forward to discussing Iran's latest proposal and expressed cautious optimism.
The deputy foreign minister had earlier said Iran’s “logical, balanced and realistic” plan makes it possible for both sides to take the first step toward breaking the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.
