Tehran, YJC. Zarif and Ashton met in New York to discuss a deal on the Iranian nuclear program.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and Catherine
Ashton, Former EU foreign relations chief and current head of the EU in Iran
nuclear negotiations, met on Wednesday in New York as a working lunch to
discuss mutual concerns.
The two sides reviewed the latest on the talks between Iran
and the six major world powers over Tehran’s nuclear energy program and also
discussed how to continue the negotiations.
Bilateral meetings between representatives from Iran and the
P5+1 group - Russia, China, France, Britain, the US and Germany - are also
slated to kick off later on Thursday.
The seventh round of talks between Iran and the P5+1, which
aim to narrow the remaining gaps and finalize a nuclear deal between the two
sides, will officially begin on Friday.
Arriving in New York, Zarif said that he will hold bilateral
meetings with the 5+1 group members before the 69th UN General Assembly.
He also stated that the six powers’ political leaders will
meet to further discuss the nuclear case.
Zarif provided comments on Western urge to include Iran's defense power in the nuclear talks and asserted that the issue of Iran's missiles or any other part of the country's military features is not subject to negotiations.
The problem is that the US has been drowned in sanctions and the US congress wants the sanctions to remain, he said.
Meetings have also been arranged with research groups and
think tanks in New York which we will hold in the coming days prior to Mr.
President’s arrival.
Abbas Araqchi, Majid Takht Ravanchi, and Hamid Baidi Nejad
are accompanying Zarif in New York.