Iran, EU agree to talk again on nuclear dispute

09:33 03/08/2012 » Society

Iran, EU agree to talk again on nuclear dispute

Chief negotiators for the EU and Iran agreed on Thursday to hold more talks about Tehran's nuclear work, but the European Union gave no sign progress was imminent in the decade-long dispute, Reuters reported.

Six world powers, represented by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, have sought to persuade Iran to scale back its nuclear program through intensifying economic sanctions and diplomacy.

They have failed to reach a breakthrough in three rounds of talks since April. But neither side has been willing to break off talks because of concerns, in part, that this could lead to a new war in the Middle East if Israel attacked its arch-foe.

Any deals are likely to be struck only during political talks between Iran and the six - the United States, Russia, China, France, Germany and Britain. But the sides had been unable to decide when, or whether, to meet since diplomacy hit an impasse in June.

"I ... have explored diplomatic ways to resolve international concerns about Iran's nuclear program," Ashton said in a statement after a phone conversation with Iran's chief negotiator Saeed Jalili.

"I impressed the need for Iran now to address the issues we have raised in order to build confidence. I proposed, and Dr Jalili agreed, that we talk again after further reflection at the end of the month."

Since political talks reached an impasse in June in Moscow, experts from the two sides have held technical discussions aiming to clarify aspects of Iran's nuclear work, which the world powers fear aims at producing weapons. However, the technical talks have produced scant results, diplomats say.
 

Source: Panorama.am

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