Brussels, 23/06/2014 (Agence Europe) - The negotiations between the E3+3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom and China, United States, Russia) and Iran on the Iranian nuclear programme will resume on 2 July, announced the spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton on 20 June. “We have worked extremely hard all week to develop elements we can bring together when we meet for the next round in Vienna, beginning on 2 July”, the spokesperson stated following the talks held in Vienna on 16-20 June.
The political leaders from the E3+3 will themselves meet in Brussels on 26 June to continue the discussions, Ashton's spokesperson also announced.
During the negotiations on 16-20 June, “we presented each other with a number of ideas on a range of issues, and we have begun the drafting process” of the final text, said Ashton's spokesperson, Michael Mann. According to sources close to the negotiations, who have been quoted by media, the discussions were difficult - with disagreements on the level of uranium enrichment that Iran could conserve after an agreement, and disagreement on the timetable for lifting sanctions. During the morning of 20 June, Mann had warned that many negotiations would be needed during the month of July. The provisional agreement runs until 20 July. (CG)