ran’s Foreign Minister says the recent nuclear talks in Almaty were a “milestone” that marked an evolution in the ongoing negotiations.
Reuters quotes Ali Akbar Salehi telling the ORF Austrian network: “I call it a milestone. It is a turning point in the negotiations,” referring to the recent round of talks between Iran and the G5+1 in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
“We are moving in a direction that will result in the satisfaction of both sides,” Salehi said.
Salehi did not refer to any details in the negotiations but suggested the fact that the talks will continue within a month is itself a breakthrough.
The parties met on February 26 in Kazakhstan’s capital and talked for two days, and while no specific details about an agreement were offered, both sides appeared more positive about the outcome of the talks and agreed to meet again in March in Istanbul.
Iran is calling for sanctions to be lifted in order to reach an agreement on the suspension of its high-grade uranium enrichment. Iran insists, however, that its enrichment of uranium to the 20-percent level is still just for peaceful purposes and can only be suspended if the fuel needed for its nuclear reactor is provided from abroad.
So far the U.S. and the EU have made no commitments to lift sanctions.
