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Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif to meet John Kerry at UN Iran's foreign minister Javad Zarif to meet John Kerry at UN
(about 1 hour later)
Foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the UN security council and Germany will meet Iran's top diplomat on Thursday to test the Islamic Republic's apparent willingness to reach a deal to resolve international concerns about its nuclear programme after years of defiance. Foreign ministers from the five permanent members of the United Nations security council and Germany will meet Iran's top diplomat on Thursday, to discuss the Islamic republic's nuclear programme.
The meeting on the sidelines of the annual United Nations general assembly is aimed at paving the way for the first round of substantive negotiations on the nuclear issue since April, probably next month. It will also mark the highest-level, direct contact between the United States and Iran in six years as the US secretary of state, John Kerry, comes face-to-face with the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif. The meeting on the sidelines of the annual UN general assembly is aimed at paving the way for the first round of substantive negotiations on the nuclear issue since April, probably next month. It will also mark the highest-level, direct contact between the US and Iran in six years as the US secretary of state, John Kerry, comes face-to-face with the Iranian foreign minister, Javad Zarif.
The United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany will participate, with the European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, serving as host of the meeting. The US, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany will participate, with the European Union foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton, serving as host of the meeting.
Encouraged by signs that the new Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, will adopt a more moderate stance than his hardline predecessor, but sceptical that the country's supreme leader will allow a change in course, Barack Obama directed Kerry to lead a new outreach to explore possibilities for resolving the long-standing dispute. However, Obama and other US officials have said Iran must prove its commitment with actions, not just words. Encouraged by signs that the new Iranian president, Hassan Rouhani, will adopt a more moderate stance than his hardline predecessor, but sceptical that the country's supreme leader will allow a change in course, Barack Obama directed Kerry to explore possibilities for resolving the long-standing dispute. However, Obama and other US officials have said Iran must prove its commitment with actions, not just words.
Rouhani is in New York this week, making his debut on the world stage with an address to the general assembly and a series of other speeches, news conferences and bilateral meetings.Rouhani is in New York this week, making his debut on the world stage with an address to the general assembly and a series of other speeches, news conferences and bilateral meetings.
During his visit, Iran has shown new urgency in reviving the stalled negotiations, seeking to ease crippling international sanctions as quickly as possible. Rouhani said on Wednesday that "we have nothing to hide", and Zarif said he hoped his counterparts "have the same political will as we do to start serious negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement within the shortest span of time". During his visit, Iran has shown new urgency in reviving the stalled negotiations, seeking to ease crippling international sanctions as quickly as possible.
Rouhani said on Wednesday that Tehran had nothing to hide, and Zarif said he hoped his counterparts "have the same political will as we do to start serious negotiations with a view to reaching an agreement within the shortest span of time".
The west suspects Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon and has imposed crippling sanctions on Tehran that have slashed its vital oil exports and severely restricted its international bank transfers. Inflation has surged and the value of the local currency has plunged.The west suspects Iran is trying to build a nuclear weapon and has imposed crippling sanctions on Tehran that have slashed its vital oil exports and severely restricted its international bank transfers. Inflation has surged and the value of the local currency has plunged.
Tehran has repeatedly denied that its nuclear programme is for anything other than peaceful purposes. Tehran has repeatedly denied that its nuclear programme is for anything other than peaceful purposes. But since his June election, Rouhani has made clear he is seeking relief from the sanctions and has welcomed a new start in nuclear negotiations in the hope that this could ease the economic pressure.
But since his June election, Rouhani has made clear he is seeking relief from the sanctions and has welcomed a new start in nuclear negotiations in the hope that this could ease the economic pressure. He has said he has the full support of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on all important matters of state including the nuclear question. He has said he has the full support of the Iranian supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who has the final word on all important matters of state, including the nuclear question.
"If there is political will on the other side, which we think there is, we are ready to talk," Rouhani told editors on Wednesday in New York. "We believe the nuclear issue will be solved by negotiation." "If there is political will on the other side, which we think there is, we are ready to talk," Rouhani said on Wednesday. "We believe the nuclear issue will be solved by negotiation."
In his speech to world leaders at the UN on Tuesday, Rouhani repeated Iran's long-standing demand that any nuclear agreement must recognise its right under international treaties to continue enriching uranium. The US and its allies have long demanded a halt to enrichment, fearing Tehran could secretly build nuclear warheads.In his speech to world leaders at the UN on Tuesday, Rouhani repeated Iran's long-standing demand that any nuclear agreement must recognise its right under international treaties to continue enriching uranium. The US and its allies have long demanded a halt to enrichment, fearing Tehran could secretly build nuclear warheads.
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