Iran and six world powers have started the second day of expert-level talks on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program in Vienna.
The talks on Friday focus on technical issues raised by chief negotiators from Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China - plus Germany.
The issue of Arak heavy-water reactor in central Iran is to be discussed by negotiators from both sides.
On Thursday, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, who is also a senior Iranian nuclear negotiator, said all technical issues concerning the Iran's nuclear energy program will be discussed in this round of talks.
The talks between Tehran and the six countries are part of efforts to seal a final deal on Iran’s nuclear energy program. The two sides reached an interim deal on November 24, 2013, in the Swiss city of Geneva to set the stage for the full settlement of the dispute over Iran’s program.
Under the Geneva deal, the six countries agreed to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period. It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on the Islamic Republic within the same time frame.
Iran and its negotiating partners wrapped up their latest round of high-level nuclear talks in Vienna on March 19. The two sides are set to resume their negotiations on April 7-9.
