Brussels, 14/11/2013 (Agence Europe) - Talks between the E3+3 and Iran on the Iranian nuclear programme will resume at political director level in Geneva on Tuesday 15 and Wednesday 16 October. Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araghchi has announced that a plan will be presented by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif at the opening session. “It has been prepared in such a way that there can be no pretext to refuse it”, he said. Following a meeting on the sidelines of the UN Security Council on 26 September, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton pointed out that the West had tabled a proposal and that the Iranian government could either respond directly to it or bring forward its own proposals (see EUROPE 10931). The West, however, would have preferred to see the Iranian proposal ahead of the meeting so that they could discuss it among themselves.
Araghchi stated that the red line for Iran is uranium enrichment. “We will not under any circumstances allow the enrichment of uranium to be suspended, restricted or stopped. We are willing, however, to discuss the form, amount and various levels of enrichment”, he said. “Enrichment will not be suspended for even a day”, he stated, adding that “nor will we allow a single gram of enriched uranium to leave the country”.
Iranian chief negotiator Zarif has said that a ministerial meeting will be necessary after this week's meeting, hoping that progress will be made. “I hope we can come to a roadmap by Wednesday but … it will probably be necessary to hold a further ministerial meeting”, he said on 13 October. Zarif will take part in the opening session of the talks but thereafter it will be his deputy Araghchi who will lead the Iranian side. “We want to change the approach of the last six years which failed to bring any results”, he stated (our translation throughout).
Elsewhere, Ashton met US Secretary of State John Kerry on 13 October, for discussions, inter alia, on Iran. At the present moment, the diplomatic window is opening more and more, said Kerry, adding that, as a peaceful solution is being sought to the Iranian nuclear programme, words will have to be followed up by actions. (CG/transl.fl)