Iran, major powers continue talks in Moscow for second day

MOSCOW, June 20 (MNA) — Russia launched a bid Tuesday to save nuclear talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) from collapse. Diplomats said the negotiations remained deadlocked as they went into a second and possibly final day. Russian Deputy Minister Sergei Ryabkov met with Iran’s chief nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili on the sidelines of the talks Tuesday, as the host nation tried to keep negotiations on track. Jalili also held bilateral talks with Catherine Ashton, the European Union foreign policy chief who represents the 5+1 group in the talks. In Moscow on Monday Iran elaborated on its five-point package of proposals for helping the talks progress. The main points of Iran’s package of proposals are as follows: (1) Negotiations must be purposeful. The starting point and the end point of the talks must be made clear. Therefore, it is necessary that a framework be developed for talks and their principles and purposes be determined. (2) Negotiations must be effective and must be based on a step-by-step approach. (3) The framework of talks should be determined, and it must be made clear when and how the talks will end and what path should be taken. (4) and (5) The negotiating countries must recognize Iran’s right to enrichment under the NPT (nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty). Iran’s nuclear rights should not be reduced and no obligations beyond the NPT should be imposed on it. If these points are clarified, the legal status of the United Nations Security Council sanctions can be determined.