Little progress in expert-level Geneva talks: Iran

Iran says little progress has been made in the latest round of expert-level nuclear talks between Tehran and six world powers in the Swiss city of Geneva.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi, who doubles as Iran’s top nuclear negotiator, made the comment on the third day of the negotiations on Saturday.

The two sides will be holding a fourth day of talks on Sunday to discuss the implementation of the landmark nuclear deal struck between Iran and the Sextet in Geneva last month.

Director General for Political and International Affairs at Iran’s Foreign Ministry Hamid Baidinejad is leading the Iranian delegation, which is comprised of experts from nuclear, banking, oil and transportation sectors.

Stephen Clement, an aide to the European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton heads the Sextet’s negotiating team.

On November 24, Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — Britain, China, France, Russia and the US — plus Germany inked an interim deal in Geneva to set the stage for the full resolution of the dispute over Iran’s nuclear energy program.

As part of the Geneva deal, it was agreed that in exchange for limiting certain aspects of its nuclear activities, Iran would be provided with a certain amount of sanctions relief and that no more nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on the country for six months.

Iran ended the first round of talks after the administration of US President Barack Obama imposed new sanctions on 19 more Iranian companies and individuals for “providing support” for Tehran’s nuclear program.

Tehran agreed to resume talks with the six world powers after Ashton reassured the Islamic Republic of the seriousness of the opposite side to advance the Geneva deal.