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Next round of P5+1 negotiations to begin in Geneva

The Russian side will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov

Photo EPA/SHAMIL ZHUMATOV

Photo EPA/SHAMIL ZHUMATOV

GENEVA, October 15 (Itar-Tass) - The next round of negotiations between Iran and the six international mediators (five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany- P5+1) on the settlement of the Iranian nuclear dossier is beginning in Geneva on Tuesday.

Taking part in the meeting will be EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, as well as the political directors of the six key nations.

The Russian side will be represented by Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov. The American delegation is headed by Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.

The previous round was held in Alma-Ata this April. In recent months, the presidential administration and the cabinet have been replaced in Iran. Tehran started to give more positive signals regarding the prospects for dialogue with the international community on the nuclear dossier.

In particular, addressing the 68th session of the UN General Assembly in New York, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI) Hassan Rouhani said that Iran’s nuclear programme “is intended purely for peaceful purposes.” “Nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction have no place in Iran’s military doctrine,” he said. According to him, these weapons are contrary to IRI fundamental religious and ethical convictions. He said that Iran’s national interests are to remove any suspicions about its nuclear programme.

However, Rouhani noted, other countries should respect the right of Iran to enrich nuclear materials.

The head of Iran’s executive power branch for the first time spoke about the timeframe for a possible agreement on the Iranian nuclear issue - three to six months.

Rouhani said that the shorter the timeline, the more everyone would benefit.

Moscow has welcomed such an attitude of Tehran. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov noted, in particular, that “good prospects for the revitalisation of the work on the Iranian nuclear issue” are currently seen.

“The statements of the new Iranian leadership gives reason to believe that we can break the impasse,” said the minister.

The EU expects Tehran at the upcoming round to present concrete proposals for a “quick progress in the negotiating process.” “We look forward to constructive solutions and real results,” said the spokesperson of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Michael Mann.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry said for his part that there was much work ahead which, hopefully, would provide answers to the questions related to the Iranian nuclear programme.

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