Iran, world powers to hold next round of nuclear talks on April 7-9

Eurasia News

VIENNA: Iran and the six world powers will meet again in Vienna on April 7-9 for next round of talks as part of efforts to seal a final deal on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program, Iran Foreign Minister Muhammad Javad Zarif told reporters at a joint press conference at the end of the second day of talks on Wednesday.

Earlier, Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany wrapped up negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear energy program in the Austrian capital, with both sides describing the negotiations as useful and constructive.

The Iranian foreign minister said that the closure of Arak heavy water reactor is not on the agenda, saying the facility will stay part of the country’s nuclear energy program as agreed under the deal between Iran and the six powers reached in Geneva on November 24 last year.

The European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton also described the talks as “substantive and useful”, which covered a set of issues “including (uranium) enrichment, the Arak reactor, civil nuclear cooperation and sanctions”.