E3 Plus 3 Bracing For Important Phase Of Iran Talks: German official

Berlin, June 28, IRNA -- Diplomats from six world powers are preparing for the final and ˈimportant phaseˈ of negotiations with Iran over its nuclear program as E3 plus 3 diplomats met in Brussels on Thursday, according to a senior German official. Asked by IRNA on the purpose of the E3 plus 3 meeting in the Belgian capital, German foreign ministry spokesman Martin Schaefer said the ˈconfidential talksˈ were aimed at the final ˈhot and important phaseˈ of Iran negotiations, due to resume in Vienna next week. Officials from Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States -- the five permanent members of the UN Security Council -- plus Germany met reportedly European Union foreign affairs head Catherine Ashton for what an EU official termed ˈan intense day of preparationˈ for talks next week with Iran. Pointing to the July 20 deadline for a permanent Iran nuclear deal, Schaefer said the meeting in Brussels was a ˈgood opportunity to clarify the remaining issuesˈ. The German diplomat stressed there was still a ˈwide gapˈ between the positions of Iran and six world powers which had yet to be overcome. Schaefer urged Iran to budge on some of the technical questions. The next round will be held Wednesday in Vienna, led by Ashton and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, after a difficult fifth round there last week./end