Iran Describes Nuclear Talks as Useful

Iran’s Deputy Chief negotiator Sayyed Abbas Araqchi Ashton-Zarifdescribed two days of talks between Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in the Turkish city of Istanbul as “useful”, and said there could be more bilateral meetings before the next round of the multilateral nuclear talks between Tehran and the six world powers.

Speaking to FNA after two days of bilateral talks between Iranian and EU negotiating teams headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton on Tuesday, Araqchi described the Istanbul meeting as “lengthy” and “useful”, and said the talks were aimed at “studying the different ways to advance the negotiations” (between Iran and the six world powers).

“The two sides also decided that if needed, the (bilateral) discussions could continue at both political and technical levels before the next round of the (Iran-Group 5+1) negotiations in Vienna from June 16-20,” Araqchi, also a deputy foreign minister, added.

“Both sides are resolved to continue the talks,” he stressed.

The bilateral talks between Iran’s Zarif and EU’s Ashton started in Istanbul on Monday.