The third round of technical-level nuclear talks began today, Monday December 30, in Geneva between Iran and the 5+1 delegation.
IRNA reports that Abbas Araghchi, a senior Iranian negotiator, had said earlier that this round of talks would start with a one-day meeting before the New Year’s break. which would continue in the New Year.
Araghchi has also been quoted as saying that negotiations have been prolonged due to the “differing interpretations of the seven countries involved in the negotiations around the mutual steps that have to be taken according to the document that was signed on November 24 between Iran and the 5+1.”
IRNA has reported that the provisions of the agreement will be implemented at the end of January 2014.
The last round of expert talks in Vienna was interrupted on December 13, when the U.S. Congress passed a bill expanding the blacklist of entities under U.S. sanction for involvement with Iran’s nuclear program.
While Iran condemned that act as a move violating the spirit of cooperation needed to implement the earlier agreement, the U.S. president threatened Congress that he would use his veto power against further sanctions against Iran.
