Iran, 5+1 group set for nuclear talks in Baghdad

BAGHDAD,May 23(MNA) – Negotiators from Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) are set to begin talks over Iran’s nuclear program in Baghdad today. The meeting is scheduled to run for two days. European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton will be representing world powers in the negotiations, and the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, Saeed Jalili, will be heading the Iranian delegation. Jalili and Ashton will hold bilateral talks before official talks begin. Timetable for talks may be changed Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari told reporters in Baghdad on Tuesday that there had been a possibility that the timetable for talks would be changed due to adverse weather conditions. AFP quoted an Iraqi Airways official as saying that a dust storm had shut Baghdad airport on Tuesday. “The negotiations can help promote security in the region,” Zebari said, adding, “The holding of the meeting benefits all regional countries, and no country in the region should oppose the holding of the meeting.” Asked if Iraq has arranged a meeting between Iranian and U.S. officials, the Iraqi foreign minister stated, “No effort has been made to hold a meeting between Iran and the United States in Baghdad, but the issue will be considered.” Iranian envoy says all Iraqi groups have welcomed talks The Iranian ambassador to Baghdad, Hassan Danaiifar, told a press conference in Baghdad on Tuesday that if the negations produce positive results and effectively help resolve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear program, this historic event will be recorded in Iraq’s history. However, the mere hosting of the talks is a historic event in the Iraqis’ views, he added. Danaiifar also stated that all Iraqi political groups have welcomed the talks.