Iran's FM Arrives In Vienna For Nuclear Talks

Tehran, July 2, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his accompanying delegation arrived in Vienna, Austria, Wednesday morning to hold the sixth round of nuclear talks with the Group 5+1. During his stay, Zarif would have no working dinner with the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton due to the holy month of Ramadan. The foreign minister is accompanied by his Deputy for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, Foreign Minister advisor Davoud Mohammadnia, Director for Safeguards Affairs Mohammad Amiri and Director General for the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Pejman Rahimian. Representatives of Iran and the Group 5+1 met in Vienna on June 16-20 when they began drafting the final agreement called ˈComprehensive Joint Plan of Action.ˈ The two sides have made the framework for the comprehensive Joint Plan of Action but faced some disagreements on contents and even introduction of the main text. The disagreements included the scale, level and amount of Iranˈs enrichment activities, timetable for lifting the anti-Iran sanctions and the time of the agreement. The Vienna-6 is believed to be the most technical and complicated round of talks between Iran and the world six powers (US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany). The Iranian diplomats will have a full fledged discussion with members of the P5+1 during Vienna-6 for about 20 days to reach a comprehensive final agreement. The talks are to start later on Wednesday and continue until July 20. The two sides can extend the time of talks if deemed necessary./end