US Under Secretary of State Wendy Sherman went to Vienna at the head of a US delegation to take part in the next round of talks on Iran's nuclear programme between five permanent members of the UN Security Council plus Germany on the one hand and Iran on the other, the Department of State press service reports, stressing that the dispute in the Austrian capital concerning Iran's nuclear record will be taking place on the level of policy directors of foreign ministries of 'The Six' and Iran.During the talks, attention will be focused on moving forward in the direction of finding an all-embracing solution on Irans nuclear programme, the US Department of State reports. This is going to be the second meeting of five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany with Iran after both sides started implementing a joint action plan. High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton is to coordinate the talks in Vienna.
A joint plan of actions to reduce Irans nuclear programme was based on the outcome of talks between 'The Six' and Iran in November 2013. Later the participants coordinated their steps to fulfil this plan and started implementing it on 20 January this year. A list of specific technical steps was prepared and approved by the International Atomic Energy Agency.
The plan stipulates cutting down Iran?s nuclear programme in return for gradual lifting of economic sanctions. It is meant for six months during which 'The Six hopes to come to a final all-embracing agreement with Iran. This agreement is expected to guarantee an entirely peaceful nature of Irans nuclear activities and allay the international communitys concerns about their military format.
Iran has no intention to stop any part of its nuclear program, its foreign minister said on Saturday before imminent talks with world powers on a comprehensive nuclear deal.
"They (westerners) well know that we have never sought and do not seek nuclear weapons and that our nuclear program is peaceful. So, Iran has no intention of stopping any kind of its nuclear activities and the opposite side knows this," Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said.
Zarif also said the United States must make a "very tough" decision. He urged Washington to face "realities" about Iran's nuclear program once forever and "stop having fantasies" of halting it.
The minister's words was a reaction to the latest remarks by U. S. Secretary of State John Kerry. The US diplomat said on Thursday that Iran is going to make some "very tough decisions ... in order to meet the international community's standard for certainty as to the peacefulness of this (nuclear) program."
Zarif said Iran has "never sought to produce nuclear weapons and will not do so in the future." He also called on the United States to recognize Iran's rights for "peaceful" nuclear activities.
US officials have urged Iran to take further steps beyond the commitments under the interim nuclear deal to prove its nuclear activities are for civilian use.
Iran and the P5+1 group, namely the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany, clinched an interim nuclear deal in Geneva, Switzerland, in November last year. The deal took effect in January.
Under the deal, Iran agreed to freeze part of its nuclear activities in exchange for a relief of Western sanctions on its economy.
The two sides are expected to meet again on Monday to hammer out a final agreement.
By Voice Of Russia
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