EU, Iran to resume nuclear talks next week

Xinhuanet: The European Union (EU) and Iran will resume nuclear talks in Paris on Nov. 5, diplomats said Thursday.
A second round of discussions between Iran and the EU trio — Britain, Germany and France — in Vienna on Wednesday failed to reach agreement but both sides described the meeting constructive. Xinhuanet

VIENNA – The European Union (EU) and Iran will resume nuclear talks in Paris on Nov. 5, diplomats said Thursday.

A second round of discussions between Iran and the EU trio — Britain, Germany and France — in Vienna on Wednesday failed to reach agreement but both sides described the meeting constructive.

Iranian negotiators hinted during Wednesday’s talks that instead of a long-term suspension, Iran might suspend uranium enrichment for two or three months, said diplomats.

The EU is trying to strike a deal with Iran under which Iran will suspend its uranium enrichment in exchange for EU nuclear technology.

The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) threatened in September to bring the issue to the UN Security Council unless Tehran agrees to the suspension by Nov. 25.

Iran will have to agree to the suspension by around Nov. 10 to allow time for IAEA verification, said IAEA spokeswoman Melissa Fleming.

After the first round of talks in Vienna, Iran said it would consider EU’s proposal that Iran gets a light-water reactor, nuclear fuel and technology from EU in exchange for a suspension of uranium enrichment.