World Powers, Iran to Meet over Nuclear Program

Local Editor

Russia, the US and other world powers will try to put their sharp differences over Ukraine to one side on Tuesday for their latest round of nuclear talks with Iran in Vienna.

It is the second in a planned series of meetings this year that aims to transform a November interim deal between Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany into a lasting accord by July.

The current round of negotiations are expected to last until Wednesday and the Tuesday morning session will be presided over by Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, who represents the six countries.

The talks will then continue at deputy level with Sayyed Abbas Araqchi representing Iran and Helga Schmid picking up for Ashton.

Describing a deal with Iran as a "Rubik's Cube" puzzle, a senior US official said Friday that the parties were "moving forward in a positive way", although "many gaps" remained.
Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif said Sunday the talks would be "more serious than previous ones," but said he expects a trickier round of talks this week than the previous meeting in mid-February as the two sides try to iron out details such as Iran's Arak heavy water reactor and levels of uranium enrichment.

Talking to IRNA upon arrival in Vienna, Zarif said in the new round of nuclear talks with the G5+1, such issues as enrichment and heavy water reactor in Arak will be discussed.

He said in this round of talks, there will also be discussions on peaceful nuclear cooperation and lifting of sanctions.
He added, "We expect to have good exchange of talks between representatives of both sides."

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team