Iran And P5+1 Nuclear Talks Set In New York

KABUL: (Middle East Press) The Islamic Republic of Iran and the P5+1 group are preparing for the seventh round of conference over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The first stage of talks is expected to kick off Wednesday noon in the presence of EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton, who leads the team from six world powers, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said.

Zarif, who leads the Iranian negotiating team, said the two sides will then continue talks bilaterally.

He also added that bilateral and multilateral meetings are planned to be held prior to high-level meetings of the 69th Session of the United Nations General Assembly.

According to the top nuclear envoy, political directors from both sides will also take part for talks on Friday.

There will also be several gatherings with think tanks in the coming days before Iranian President Hassan Rouhani arrives in New York to attend the UN meeting, Zarif said.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Russia, China, France and Britain – plus Germany have been discussing ways to iron out their differences and start drafting a final deal that would end the West’s dispute with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.