Baghdad talks came to an end with the parties agreeing to meet in Moscow next month as agreement on details of the negotiations appears to have reached a snag.
Catherine Ashton EU foreign policy chief finally appeared at the press conference after the third round of talks today announcing that they had agreed to meet in Moscow on June 18 and 19 aiming for a breakthrough on international concerns about Iran’s nuclear porgram.
Associated Press quoted Ashton as saying: "It is clear that we both want to make progress, and that there is some common ground; however, significant differences remain. Nonetheless, we do agree on the need for further discussion to expand that common ground."
While reporters awaited a wrap-up news conference earlier in the afternoon following two rounds of talks in Baghdad between Iran and the G5+1, it was announced that those talks will stretch into another round this evening.
ISNA reported that after a meeting between chief Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili and the heads of the Chinese and Russian delegations, it was announced that the negotiations will continue again in a third round of talks at 6 PM Baghdad local time.
The Mehr News Agency reports that while reporters were waiting for the press conference to begin, Michael Mann, the spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, apologized to the gathering and announced that the press conference has been postponed in favour of another round of talks.
Mehr adds that Ashton had almost reached the doors to enter the press conference when other countries involved in the negotiations lured her back with the call for more talks.
In addition to the talks between the Iranian delegation and the G5+1 delegations, Jalili had reportedly met with Ashton at least three times to discuss Iran’s proposal package.
The G5+1’s chief demand is reportedly for Iran to stop enriching uranium to the 20-percent level, but Iran is calling for an easing of sanctions in return.
Reuters reports that Iranian diplomats have pointed the finger at the United States for creating a “difficult atmosphere” at the Baghdad talks.
