Ashton-Zarif Meeting Starts In Vienna

Berlin, March 18, IRNA - Talks between European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif opened in Vienna Tuesday as the next round of negotiations on a final nuclear accord between Iran and six western powers kicked off. The two-day talks are to focus on Iranˈs uranium enrichment program, the Arak heavy water reactor, peaceful nuclear cooperation and the removal of sanctions. According to Zarif, the Vienna talks will be merely an exchange of ideas and not actual negotiations. Under a six-month interim deal, Tehran agreed to curb some of its nuclear activities in return for lifting some western sanctions./end