MOSCOW, May 14 (RIA Novosti) – Iran and six world powers started a fourth round of nuclear talks on a broader agreement at the UN headquarters in Vienna on Wednesday, the press secretary for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton tweeted on his account.
“Latest round of E3/EU+3 talks with Iran on Iran's nuclear programme begin at UN,” Michael Mann said.
Earlier, the head of the Russian delegation, Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, said as a result of this round of talks, elements for the final agreement would start being formed.
The official talks are to continue through Friday.
Iran is determined to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement with the six world powers by July 20, the nation’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iran’s Irna news agency Wednesday.
According to Araqchi, two more rounds are planned in June, with the third one due in July. He added the July session could be stretched out as long as 20 days, if needed.
In November 2013, Iran and the six international mediators – the so-called P5+1 comprising Russia, China, France, the US, the EU plus Germany – agreed in Geneva on the temporary limiting of Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for a partial halt of US and EU sanctions against Iran. A complete agreement guaranteeing the absence of military components in Iran’s nuclear program is scheduled to be developed by July 20.
The talks seek to allay the West’s fears that Iran is on its way to build weapons of mass destruction, with Tehran claiming the goals of its nuclear programme are peaceful.
