5+1 group, Iran negotiations ends without results

Baghdad (IraqiNews.com) The first round of Wednesday evening negotiations between Iran and the 5+1 group of permanent members of the Security Council plus Germany ended without reaching an agreement between the two sides over the Iranian nuclear file, but it witnessed heated argument between the U.S. and the Russian delegations.

All sides agreed to resume talks tomorrow, Thursday, after the end of today talks without reaching an agreement.

A source told Iraqi News (IraqiNews.com) that “Wednesday’s meeting did not achieve any progress, but it witnessed a verbal altercation between the representatives of Russia and the U.S. delegation because of the demands of the US for tightening sanctions on Iran which is rejected by Russia.”

The source added that “The bilateral talks will continue tonight between the High Representative for Foreign and Security Affairs of the European Union, Catherine Ashton and the Iranian side to discuss topics presented by Iran.”

The Iranian delegation submitted an offer for the six major countries during the talks based on five points and it is based on the principle of step for step.

Iran has rejected during the talks the EU proposal to reduce uranium enrichment from 20% to 5% against the reduction of sanctions.

The Iranian delegation said that “The 20 % enrichment rate represents a red line for Iran that cannot be decreased.”

The talks between major powers and Iran in Baghdad represent a new cycle in a long series of nuclear negotiations, but they also represent a further step on the road to Iraq’s return to global diplomacy map.