Envoys at Iran nuclear talks try to chip away at differences over enrichment, sanctions relief
Posted Nov 21, 2013 05:10:04 AM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
GENEVA – Two top diplomats are back at the negotiating table in Geneva, trying to hammer out terms that would start curbing Iran’s nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief for the Islamic republic.
The nuclear talks being held formally group six world powers with Iran. But the seven nations have convened only once since the current round of talks started Wednesday. Instead, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and top EU diplomat Catherine Ashton have met instead to try to find common language on a first-step deal. The two resumed their talks Friday.
Among the apparent sticking points are Iran’s uranium enrichment program — which can produce both reactor fuel and the fissile core of nuclear warheads — and relief for Iran’s oil and banking sectors.
Iran denies wanting nuclear weapons.
