Iran, P5+1 wrap up first round of talks
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany (P5+1) have just ended the first round of talks in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The first round of the new comprehensive talks began on Saturday after a 15-month hiatus. The Iranian delegation present at the talks is headed by Secretary of the Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili while the delegations of the six world powers are headed by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
European Union sources have described the atmosphere of the talks as “positive”. However, sources close to the Iranian delegation say it is too early to describe the talks as positive and the viewpoints of all sides need to be heard before passing judgment.
Tehran and the P5+1 held two rounds of talks in the past, one in Geneva in December 2010 and another in Istanbul in January 2011.
The second round of the new negotiations will be held in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad, the date of which will be announced at the end of the Istanbul meeting.
The two sides are to meet again today, later in the afternoon.