EU: Round one of Iran-P5+1 talks, constructive

After the first round of comprehensive negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 – the US, Britain, France, China, Russia plus Germany – wrapped up in Istanbul, a European Union source says talks between the group and Iran were “constructive.”

Earlier on Saturday, European Union sources had described the atmosphere of the talks as “positive.” However sources close to Iranian negotiators said that it is too early to judge whether the atmosphere of the talks has been positive before hearing the viewpoints of all sides.

The first round of the new comprehensive talks between Iran and the P5+1 began on Saturday morning after a 15-month hiatus and is expected to continue in the afternoon.

An EU source said after that first round of talks that member states of the P5+1 will also hold separate bilateral negotiations with the Iranian side.

The Iranian delegation present at the talks is headed by Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili while the delegations of the six world powers are headed by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.

Tehran and the P5+1 have already held two rounds of talks in the past, one in Geneva in December 2010 and another in Istanbul in January 2011.

The second round of the new negotiations will be held in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the date of which will be announced at the end of the Istanbul meeting.