5+1 committed to another round of talks with Iran: Ashton spokesman

TEHRAN,Dec.23(MNA) – The six major powers are committed to holding another round of talks with Iran over the country’s nuclear program, according to Michael Mann, a spokesperson for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Ashton represents the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany), which is also referred to as E3+3 or P5+1, in negotiations with Tehran, the latest high-level round of which was held in Moscow on June 18 and 19. A new round of negotiations is expected to be held in the near future. However, no decision has yet been made on the date and venue of the talks. In an email interview with ISNA on Thursday, Mann said, “The E3+3 remain fully committed to having another round of talks, led by the EU High Representative together with the E3+3 political directors, with Dr. Jalili as soon as possible.” Saeed Jalili, the secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC), is Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator. Ashton’s spokesman added, “For that purpose, Helga Schmid has been in contact with Dr. Baqeri last week in order to look into possible dates.” Schmid is the deputy secretary general for political affairs of the European External Action Service, and Ali Baqeri is SNSC deputy secretary. Elsewhere in his remarks, Mann stated that world powers “have not yet received a reply from Iran to their concrete proposal to meet.” Based on the robust and credible proposal for an initial confidence-building step made by the E3+3 at the Baghdad meeting in May 2012, the E3+3 have been looking into ways and means to refresh this proposal, he added. Commenting on the proposals that Iran put forward to the 5+1 group in Moscow, Mann said that the six countries “have provided their reaction to the different points raised by Iran on the occasion of the talks in Moscow in June and during the E3+3 experts’ meeting with Iran in Istanbul in July.” The major powers have demanded that Iran halt 20 percent enrichment of uranium, shut down the Fordo uranium enrichment facility, and ship all of its stocks of 20 percent enriched uranium out of the country. Iran’s main demand is that its right to uranium enrichment, as enumerated in the nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, be recognized.