Azerbaijan, Baku, Dec. 9 / Trend T. Konyayeva /
British diplomats have not asked Iran for a bilateral meeting outside the Geneva talks, an official representative of the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office said today.
"We just intended to hold a plenary meeting, rather than a bilateral meeting, the source wrote Trend in an e-mail. "We have not asked for a meeting. All of the sides negotiated during the general meetings of the 'Six.'"
On Tuesday, Abolfaz Zohrevand, the deputy chief negotiator on the Iranian nuclear program, said Iran rejected a request by the British delegation to meet outside the negotiations.
The two-day talks between Iran and the five permanent U.N. Security Council members - the UK, China, Russia, the United States, France and Germany - began on Monday in Geneva.
The deputy foreign ministers of Russia, the United States, UK, China, France and Germany, and EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton attended the talks. Iran was represented by Iranian Supreme National Security Council Secretary Saeed Jalili.
Ashton issued a statement about the talks today.
"We have had nearly two days of detailed substantive talks focusing on the Iranian nuclear program and the need for Iran to comply with its international obligations," she said.
"The countries I represent are united in seeking a resolution to the international community's concerns regarding Iran's nuclear program, which is the central purpose of these talks," she said. "We recognize Iran's rights, but insist that it fulfils its obligations. We are ready to address and to seek common ground also on other issues of mutual interest."
"We and Iran agreed to a continuation of these talks in late January in Istanbul, where we plan to discuss practical ideas and ways of cooperating toward a resolution of our core concerns about the nuclear issue," Ashton concluded.
The parties discussed a wide range of issues, including non-proliferation, disarmament and peaceful nuclear development. All three issues were included in an Iranian proposal package that was sent to the Six two years ago.
The negotiating process was severed in 2009 when the IAEA Board of Governors condemned Iran for building a second plant to enrich uranium and called on Tehran to confirm that no decisions were made on the construction of other nuclear facilities, not declared by the agency.
Iran has repeatedly said its right to nuclear development are not a topic for discussion.