New round of Iran nuclear talks possible in coming weeks: Washington Post

TEHRAN,Dec.16(MNA) – A new round of talks between Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) over the country’s nuclear program may be possible in coming weeks, the Washington Post reported on Saturday. According to the Post, the United States and five other world powers are hastily preparing for possible new talks with Iran amid signs that the country’s leaders might be willing to hold a new round of nuclear talks as early as next week. The major powers have agreed on a new package of inducements to be offered to Iran if it agrees to freeze key parts of its nuclear program, said U.S. and European officials briefed on the matter. Iran rejected a similar deal earlier this year. “Our assessment is that it is possible that they are ready to make a deal,” a senior U.S. administration official said on Friday. The talks would be the first high-level negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program since June. The movement on the diplomatic front came amid reports that Iran and the International Atomic Energy Agency had been able to make progress in their talks which were held in Tehran on Thursday. There was no confirmation from Tehran about pending talks with the major powers. On Friday, a member of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team expressed skepticism about a possible deal with the 5+1 group. “Personally, I am not optimistic,” Mostafa Dolatyar told reporters during a visit to India. But he added, “Everything could be subject to negotiation.” Three U.S. and European officials briefed on the preparations said Iranian negotiators were discussing a timetable for new talks, which might be held in Istanbul. Initial meetings could begin as early as next week, though they are more likely to start after the New Year’s holiday, said the officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss diplomatically sensitive negotiations. U.S. officials said the purpose would be to test Iranian willingness to halt certain nuclear activities as an interim step, or a “confidence-building” measure. In exchange, Iran would be offered technical help with its civilian nuclear program and a lifting of a ban on the purchase of aircraft parts, the officials said. The interim measures, if accepted, could be the starting point for a future “grand bargain” that would set permanent limits on Iran’s nuclear activities in exchange for rolling back economic sanctions, the officials said.