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Iran nuclear talks resumed in Geneva

Xinhua, January 18, 2015 Adjust font size:

The world major countries and Iran on Sunday resumed talks over Tehran's long-standing controversial nuclear program, the second round after the failure to meet a Nov. 24 deadline in 2014 for a comprehensive nuclear deal.

The meeting, held by Iran and the P5+1 group, including China, France, Russia, Britain, the United States, and Germany, began this morning, a diplomatic source said, without giving further details.

The negotiations were premised on prior bilateral engagements between the United States and Iran during the past four days which started with a one-day talks between U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad-Javad Zarif on Wednesday.

Wang Qun, director-general of the Department of Arms Control of Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who headed the Chinese delegation to the talks, told Xinhua that China expected that all parties could adopt a flexible and practical attitude and show the political will and determination to facilitate a package solution and a win-win comprehensive agreement.

Wang highlighted that parties involved should endeavour to reach a framework of agreement by the end of March, which is a race against time at the moment.

According to Iranian state-run IRIB TV, Zarif on Saturday expressed optimism about a solution to his country's nuclear issue despite the fact that wide gaps between Tehran and the world powers remain.

He said that "serious, accurate and clear discussions" over the disputed nuclear topics were held over the past days, and "we are seriously doing our job and believe that the solution is within reach."

Iran has been a target of UN sanctions due to its alleged attempts to build nuclear weapons. The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear programs, which Iran has denied, insisting that its nuclear programs are for peaceful purposes only.

Sides agreed in Nov. 2014 to extend the deadline for another seven months and aimed to reach a political agreement within the next four months.

How much nuclear capability Iran can keep, and the steps to lift West-imposed sanctions against Tehran are the main sticking points for the on-going negotiations. Endi