P5+1 still prepared for talks with Iran

Following Iran’s talks with the major world powers in Istanbul, Germany’s foreign minister says the P5+1 is still prepared to hold further talks with Tehran.

“We will now intensively consult with our partners (Britain, China, France, Russia and the US) to discuss the way forward,” Expatica Germany quoted Guido Westerwelle as saying on Sunday.

“We are still prepared for talks. I hope that Iran is ready to take the outstretched hand of the international community.”

Iran and the P5+1 — the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany — wrapped up their second round of comprehensive talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Saturday.

The Iranian delegation was headed by Secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council Saeed Jalili and Ashton chaired representatives from the six world powers.

In a press conference following the talks, Jalili said Iran was “still prepared for further negotiations with the P5+1, based on common issues.”

“Fuel swap can be the basis for cooperation between nations…and it could be a subject for further negotiations,” Jalili added.

The US and its allies accuse Iran of developing a military nuclear program, and used this pretext to pressure the UN Security Council to impose a fourth round of sanctions against Iran’s financial and military sectors in June.

Iranian officials have repeatedly refuted the charges, arguing that as a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, Tehran has a right to use peaceful nuclear technology.