Russia claims key nuke talks with Iran 'going well' in Istanbul
Source: Agencies |
April 15, 2012, Sunday
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RUSSIAN Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is leading Moscow's delegation at nuclear talks between six world powers and Iran yesterday, said the atmosphere between the two sides was constructive and that things were "going well."
"The atmosphere is constructive, the conversation is business-like. As of the moment, things are going well," Interfax quoted Ryabkov as saying in Istanbul, where the talks were being held.
Iran and six world powers began rare talks to try to halt a downward diplomatic spiral over Tehran's nuclear program and ease fears of a new Middle East war. The talks, the first in 15 months, are unlikely to yield any major breakthrough but Western diplomats hope to see readiness from Tehran to start to discuss issues of substance.
That, they say, would mark a big change in Iran's attitude from the last meeting when it refused even to talk about its nuclear program and could be enough for scheduling a second round of talks next month, possibly in Baghdad.
Such an outcome could, at least for the time being, dampen speculation that Israel might launch military strikes on Iranian atomic sites to prevent its enemy from obtaining nuclear arms.
An Iranian news agency reported yesterday that a United States envoy had asked for a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator during talks and that Saeed Jalili had accepted. ISNA did not name the diplomat, but the US delegation at the talks is headed by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.
The morning round of talks were "completely different" from the previous meeting 15 months ago and Jalili had not stated the kind of preconditions that he did in the last meeting in early 2011, a diplomat said. "He seems to have come with an objective to get into a process which is a serious process," said the envoy, who requested anonymity.
Both sides say they are ready at the meeting to work towards resolving the deepening dispute over the nuclear program which the West suspects is geared toward achieving a nuclear arms capability, but which Iran says has purely peaceful purposes.
"What we are here to do is to find ways in which we can build confidence between us and ways in which we can demonstrate that Iran is moving away from a nuclear weapons program," said European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who is also the main representative of the US, France, Russia, China, Germany and Britain.
"The atmosphere is constructive, the conversation is business-like. As of the moment, things are going well," Interfax quoted Ryabkov as saying in Istanbul, where the talks were being held.
Iran and six world powers began rare talks to try to halt a downward diplomatic spiral over Tehran's nuclear program and ease fears of a new Middle East war. The talks, the first in 15 months, are unlikely to yield any major breakthrough but Western diplomats hope to see readiness from Tehran to start to discuss issues of substance.
That, they say, would mark a big change in Iran's attitude from the last meeting when it refused even to talk about its nuclear program and could be enough for scheduling a second round of talks next month, possibly in Baghdad.
Such an outcome could, at least for the time being, dampen speculation that Israel might launch military strikes on Iranian atomic sites to prevent its enemy from obtaining nuclear arms.
An Iranian news agency reported yesterday that a United States envoy had asked for a meeting with Iran's chief nuclear negotiator during talks and that Saeed Jalili had accepted. ISNA did not name the diplomat, but the US delegation at the talks is headed by Under Secretary for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman.
The morning round of talks were "completely different" from the previous meeting 15 months ago and Jalili had not stated the kind of preconditions that he did in the last meeting in early 2011, a diplomat said. "He seems to have come with an objective to get into a process which is a serious process," said the envoy, who requested anonymity.
Both sides say they are ready at the meeting to work towards resolving the deepening dispute over the nuclear program which the West suspects is geared toward achieving a nuclear arms capability, but which Iran says has purely peaceful purposes.
"What we are here to do is to find ways in which we can build confidence between us and ways in which we can demonstrate that Iran is moving away from a nuclear weapons program," said European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton who is also the main representative of the US, France, Russia, China, Germany and Britain.
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