Brussels, 19/01/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Monday 19 January, a spokesperson for High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced that the political directors of the E3+3 (Germany, France, United Kingdom and China, United States, Russia) and Iran had decided at the end of their meeting on Sunday 18 January to meet again in early February in order to discuss the Iranian nuclear programme.
Mogherini's spokesperson said that the political directors had had “serious and useful meetings” in Geneva on 18 January, “in continuation of their ongoing diplomatic efforts to find a comprehensive solution to the Iranian nuclear issue”. The meetings were chaired by the EU political director Helga Schmid. In the view of Iran's deputy minister for foreign affairs, Abbas Araghchi, the discussions were “good” and “in-depth”. “We reviewed all the issues and we had very serious negotiations”, he said, adding that they were “still trying to reduce the differences between the two parties”.
According to a diplomat quoted by Reuters, however, the discussions were “limited”. “The atmosphere was very good but I don't think we progressed much”, said Nicolas de Rivière from France. The Chinese delegate, Wang Qun, called on the parties to adopt a “flexible and pragmatic” approach.
Last week, Iran's minister for foreign affairs, Mohammad Javad Zarif, met several of his counterparts from the E3+3 (see EUROPE 11232).
The deadline for an agreement is 30 June 2015. (CG)