Iran, six powers conclude expert-level talks

A senior Iranian diplomat says the expert-level talks between Iran and six world powers in Geneva have concluded, adding that certain issues remain to be resolved at the “political level.”

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi stated on Tuesday that the expert-level talks between Iran and the six other countries, which had commenced on Monday, continued through Tuesday morning “with relatively good progress.”

On Monday, experts from Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Russia, China, France, Britain and the US – plus Germany launched a new round of talks meant to devise a mechanism to implement a landmark interim deal reached between the two sides in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24.

Under the Geneva deal, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period. It was also agreed that no more nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.

Araqchi said that, following the conclusion of the expert-level talks, the Iranian experts will submit their reports to “political deputies and directors, since certain issues have remained that should be resolved at the political level.”

He also announced that he will likely meet with Helga Schmid, a deputy of EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, next week.