Brussels, 27/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - The next formal round of E3+3 talks (Germany, France, the United Kingdom, China, United States and Russia) with Iran about the Iranian nuclear programme will take place in Vienna from 16 to 20 June, said Michael Mann, spokesman for EU High Representative Catherine Ashton on Tuesday 27 May. The date of the June talks was announced at the end of the 13-16 May talks by Iran's negotiator Abbas Araqchi, but the West refused to give confirmation until 27 May (see EUROPE 11082).
The date of the talks was officially confirmed after a meeting in Istanbul on 26 May and lunch on 27 May in Istanbul between the EU high representative and foreign minister Zarif, where a long and useful briefing took place on the Iranian nuclear programme. Mann said they had explored a number of options as part of a continuous process. Ashton and Zarif want a meeting of experts to be arranged shortly and other talks will continue as necessary, said the spokesman.
The talks in May ended without any real progress towards a final agreement, but a temporary agreement will continue until 20 July. (CG)