Iran, World Powers Agree to Continue Talks in Baghdad in May

The negotiating teams from Iran and the six world powers agreed to continue their talks in Baghdad, Iraq, next month.

At the end of their second meeting in Istanbul on Saturday, the two sides agreed to continue the negotiations in Baghdad on May 23.

After a year of stalled talks, Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) eventually accepted last month to resume their negotiations in Istanbul, Turkey, on April 14 and in case of good progress hold a second round of talks in Iraq’s capital city, Baghdad.

The two sides attended two meetings at Istanbul’s Lutfil Kirdar Hall today. The Iranian side was led by chief negotiator and Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Secretary Saeed Jalili, and EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton presided over the delegations of the six world powers.

At the first round of talks, the Iranian team of negotiators called on the western parties to take proper measures to build Iran’s confidence.

Ashton’s Spokesman Michael Mann described the first round of talks between the two sides as “positive” and “constructive”.

“(Iran’s chief negotiator Saeed) Jalili and Ashton are hopeful about the continuation of the talks,” Mann told reporters after the end of the first round of talks in Istanbul earlier today.

Asked if the two sides have agreed to continue the talks in Baghdad, the EU spokesman said, “Holding the second phase of the talks in Baghdad depends on the result of today’s negotiations.”

Mann said nothing was yet for sure, but given the positive atmosphere reigning the meeting, he saw a good chance for the success of the talks at the end of the day.

Asked if either side has brought up any new proposal in the first round of talks today, Mann said he is not allowed to reveal the details of the talks.