Deputy FMs to discuss Iran nuclear program in Istanbul

TEHRAN – Anadolu Agency

Deputy foreign ministers from Iran, the U.K., France and Germany will gather in Istanbul on Jan. 29 to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, according to an Iranian official.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, speaking to Iranian media, said Jan. 24’s talks in the Swiss city of Zurich between representatives of the U.S. and the EU had been “constructive.”

“We have started to discuss the details of complex issues, like suspending uranium enrichment and the complete removal of sanctions,” Araghchi said.

Araghchi said Iran would be represented by himself and Majid Takht-Ravanchi during Araghchi’s meeting on the sidelines of the negotiations.

Negotiations in Vienna in November 2014 were supposed to be the final round of talks between Iran and the group of world powers.

However, the deadline for a permanent settlement with Iran was extended until the end of June 2015 with the aim of “finishing the political agreement” by March, as said by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry.

The five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council – the U.S., U.K., China, France and Russia – plus Germany, known as the P5+1 group, believe Iran is developing nuclear weapons and want Tehran to curb its nuclear program in return for lifting sanctions.

However, Iran says its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes.

Tehran agreed to limit certain aspects of its controversial nuclear program in exchange for some relief in international sanctions under a deal reached in November 2013 in Geneva.