Kerry, Zarif Join Nuclear Talks in Geneva
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Date: 2/22/2015 7:18:01 AM
Sender: VOA
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U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry delivers a statement at a press conference in London a day before meeting with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Geneva, Feb. 21, 2015.
The top U.S. diplomat and his Iranian counterpart are meeting in Switzerland Sunday in an attempt to reach a deal on Iran＇s nuclear program by a March 31 deadline.
John Kerry and Mohammad Javad Zarif are joining the talks that have already begun in Geneva between Iran＇s Atomic Energy Organization chief, Ali Akbar Salehi, and U.S. Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz.
The round of discussions between the U.S. and Iran＇s top diplomats and energy officials is aimed at helping resolve ongoing technical disputes standing in the way of an agreement between Iran and the six world powers known as the P5+1.
A deal between Iran and the group -- made up of the U.S., Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia -- would curb Iran＇s nuclear activities in exchange for sanctions relief.
Kerry, who met with the British foreign secretary in London Saturday, said the P5+1 remains united on Iran.
"There is absolutely no divergence whatsoever in what we believe is necessary for Iran to prove that its nuclear program is going to be peaceful in the future," he said.
The latest talks come as a new report from the United Nations nuclear agency said it remains concerned about the possible existence of “undisclosed nuclear-related activities” in Iran that could include work linked to the development of a nuclear payload for a missile.
But the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) said Iran is in compliance with some provisions of a nuclear agreement.
Iranian state media quoted Iran＇s IAEA ambassador, Reza Najafi, as saying the findings show his country’s “full transparency” and the peaceful nature of its program. |
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