Iran, P5+1 wrap up first round of talks in Almaty
Iran Press TV
Tue Feb 26, 2013 4:31PM GMT
Iran and the world powers of the P5+1 group have wrapped up their first round of talks, whose main focus was Iran's nuclear energy program, in Kazakhstan with each side reportedly offering its own package of proposals.
Throughout the talks held in Almaty on Tuesday, the P5+1 -- the United States, Russia, China, Britain, and France plus Germany -- reportedly demanded that Iran stop enriching uranium up to 20 percent, ship out its stockpile of enriched uranium and shut down the Fordow nuclear facility near the central city of Qom.
In return, the Western governments would ease gold, petrochemical and banking sanctions against Iran.
Secretary of Iran Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili is heading the Islamic Republic’s negotiating delegation. The P5+1 representatives are led by EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.
Iran and the P5+1 group have held several rounds of talks with the main focus on Iran’s nuclear energy program. The last round of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 group was held in Moscow in June 2012.
The United States, Israel and some of their allies have repeatedly accused Iran of pursuing non-civilian objectives in its nuclear energy program. Over the false allegation, Washington and the European Union have imposed several rounds of illegal unilateral sanctions against the Islamic Republic.
Iran refutes the allegation and argues that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
KA/SS/SL
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
