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 The office of European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton
confirmed Iran and six world powers would hold their first
negotiating round since they failed to meet a July 20 target date
for an agreement in New York on Sept. 18.
The deadline was extended until Nov. 24 after six months of talks
because wide gaps persisted over the future scope of Iran's uranium
enrichment program, which can have both civilian and military
applications.
The six powers - the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany
and Britain - aim to persuade Iran to scale back its nuclear program
in exchange for phasing out sanctions that have severely hurt its
oil-dependent economy.
The election last year of President Hassan Rouhani, widely seen as a
pragmatist, raised hopes of a settlement of the standoff after years
of soaring tension and fears of a new Middle East war, and an
interim accord was reached between Iran and the six powers in Geneva
late last year.
But Western diplomats say the sides remain far apart on what a final
deal should look like - especially on the issue of how many
enrichment centrifuges Iran can operate - and that a successful
outcome in the negotiations is far from guaranteed.
Western countries suspect Iran’s program is aimed at seeking the
capability to build a nuclear bomb. Tehran says it is a peaceful
project to generate electricity.
Thursday's meeting in Geneva between senior Iranian and U.S.
officials was the second time they held talks in the Swiss city in
the past month.
U.S. SANCTIONS PRESSURE
State news agency IRNA and a U.S. official confirmed the discussions
were underway. "If there is good will and a constructive approach,
we can reach a desired result before Nov. 24," IRNA quoted Iran's
deputy foreign minister Majid Takht-Ravanchi as saying late on
Wednesday.
The United States last week penalized a number of Iranian and other
foreign companies, banks and airlines for violating sanctions
against Tehran, saying it was sending a signal that there should be
no evasion of sanctions while talks continue.
Rouhani said on Saturday the sanctions were against the spirit of
negotiations, but added he was not pessimistic about the viability
of the talks.
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Deputy Secretary of State William Burns and Under Secretary of State
for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman were in the U.S. delegation at
the Geneva talks, which will last for two days, the U.S. State
Department said in a statement.
Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, one of Iran's chief
negotiators, is also at the discussions, which IRNA said would last
until Saturday.
Although the United States is part of the six-power negotiating
track, any workable deal will likely have to be based on a bilateral
agreement between Washington and Tehran. The United States cut off
ties with Iran during a hostage crisis shortly after the 1979
Islamic Revolution.
High-level bilateral meetings between the United States and Iran,
virtually unthinkable in years past, have become almost routine on
the sidelines of the nuclear talks.
Ashton's office also confirmed that Iran and France, Britain and
Germany would meet in Vienna on Sept. 11. Ashton is the coordinator
of contacts with Iran on behalf of the six powers.
(Additional reporting by Michelle Moghtader in Dubai, Fredrik Dahl
in Vienna and Martin Santa in Brussels; Writing by Fredrik Dahl;
Editing by Sonya Hepinstall)
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