A senior Iranian nuclear negotiator says setting a definite date for the implementation of the agreement clinched between Iran and six world powers in Geneva is contingent upon reaching a common understanding on outstanding issues.
For the proposed January 20 date for putting the Geneva deal into effect to be finalized, the two sides need to see eye to eye on the remaining issues, said Irans Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi while referring to his upcoming meeting this week with Helga Schmid, a deputy for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton.
If we can reach a consensus on these issues by the end of this week, the [proposed] January 20 date may be agreed upon, but for the moment, we cannot confirm whether the date would be January 20 or later, the top Iranian negotiator noted.
Also on forming a team of observers to oversee the performance of Irans nuclear negotiating team, Araqchi stated, Decision making on such issues rests with the Supreme National Security Council, and the implementation [of the decisions] is the responsibility of different institutions.
In the case of nuclear negotiations, the Foreign Ministry is responsible and will report to the Supreme National Security Council accordingly, said the diplomat.
Experts from Iran and the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain and the US - plus Germany concluded their latest round of talks on December 31 aimed at devising a mechanism to implement a landmark interim deal reached between the two sides in the Swiss city of Geneva on November 24 last year.
Under the Geneva agreement, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Tehran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.