Iran, P5+1 Group of nations continue talks

The six major world powers - US, UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany have agreed on a framework for talks leading to a comprehensive nuclear deal. The lead negotiator for the P5+1 group and the EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said the two sides have agreed a timetable and framework agreement. The two sides will meet on a monthly basis at the level of Iranian foreign minister and Catherine Ashton till June. The next meeting will be held in Vienna on March 17 after a meeting of technical experts in early March. At a press conference in Vienna she said that they have identified all the issues that need to be addressed to reach a comprehensive and final agreement.

Iran and P5+1 Group of nations were engaged in talks in Vienna over the past three days on a joint action plan leading to a comprehensive deal over Iran’s controversial nuclear program. The Joint Plan of Action was signed by Iran and P5+1 group of nations in Geneva last November. It provides for scaling down of parts of Iranian nuclear program in exchange for partial easing of sanctions over a period of six months. The six month time frame is to be used to arrive at a comprehensive deal. The interim nuclear deal came into effect on January 20.