‘Six powers optimistic about Iran talks’

“We have come here with a sense of cautious optimism and a great sense of determination because we believe it is really time now for tangible results,” Michael Mann said in a press conference on Tuesday, when Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, Britain, France and the United States - plus Germany began the opening session on the first day of the new round of talks on Tehran’s nuclear energy program in Geneva.

Mann expressed hope that Iran would offer “constructive and concrete proposals,” adding that the six powers are “ambitious to move forward quickly.”

Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is leading the high-ranking Iranian delegation while Ashton represents the major world powers.

According to reports, Zarif presented Tehran’s new package of proposals titled, Closing an unnecessary crisis and opening new horizons, at the beginning of the first of the talks.

On October 13, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi said Iran’s package to be proposed during the talks is based on “the same step-by-step approach which was brought up and generally agreed on” in meetings with the six powers partaking in the nuclear talks.

The deputy foreign minister added that Iran’s “logical, balanced and realistic” plan makes it possible for both sides to take the first step toward breaking the deadlock over Tehran’s nuclear energy program.

Araqchi will be the chief Iranian negotiator in the talks, accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht Ravanchi, Foreign Ministry’s Director-General for Political and International Affairs Hamid Ba’eedinejad, Foreign Minister’s Legal Adviser Davoud Mohammadnia, and the Director General for Defensive Affairs of Iran’s Atomic Energy Organization Mohammad Amiri.