Iran, world powers start 2nd round of nuclear talks

The first round of negotiations was held on Tuesday morning attended by Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.

Zarif and Ashton are not present in the second round of talks held in the afternoon.

During the closed-door meeting in the morning, Zarif presented Iran’s proposal titled "Closing an Unnecessary Crisis, and Opening a New Horizon" to Ashton and the representatives of the US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is the spokesman of the Iranian delegation, said the two sides discussed the broad lines of Iran’s proposal. He added that the details of the proposed package will not be revealed before the end of the two-day talks.

After the two sides began their opening session in the morning, Ashton’s spokesman, Michael Mann, said in a press conference that the six world powers are ‘cautiously optimistic’ about the ongoing nuclear talks with Iran and seek to reach “tangible results.”

On October 13, 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.

Araqchi is 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 Director General for Defensive Affairs of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Mohammad Amiri.