Iran Offers Practical Proposals for Cooperation in Talks with World Powers

Iran on Friday offered a set of practical proposals for cooperation to the world powers, FNA reported.
   
The Iranian team of negotiators dispatched to the multifaceted talks with the world powers in Istanbul, Turkey, offered a number of practical proposals for cooperation in specific areas during the first session of negotiations on Friday morning.

Reports from Istanbul said that Iran's proposals which focused on cooperation on common points were welcomed by the representatives of the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).

Yet, an informed source privy to the high-profile talks, told FNA that the six world powers are due to voice their response to Iran's proposals in the next round of negotiations in the evening.

Other sources said that the 5+1 delegations have acknowledged and stressed Iran's entitlement to the right of access and acquisition of the nuclear technology, adding that a positive atmosphere has prevailed over the talks after the world powers' acknowledgement.

Iran and the world powers ended their first session of Istanbul talks a few hours ago. The second round is scheduled to be held in the evening.

The Iranian side is presided by Secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council (SNSC) Saeed Jalili, while European Union's foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton heads the delegations of the six world powers (the US, France, Britain, China, Russia and Germany).

Following the morning meeting, Ashton announced that the two sides would focus on finding common points in their evening session.

Reports said Ashton accepted at the end of the morning session that Iran's practical proposals set the agenda for the afternoon and evening sessions.

Stating her conclusion from the first session of the talks in Istanbul, Ashton said that the second session would be held this evening and would focus on "finding common points".

Dispatches from Istanbul said that Iran did not allow the world powers to raise the same old issues discussed in the Geneva talks in December.

The previous round of talks was held in Geneva, Switzerland on December 6-7. The two sides announced at the end of their third meeting in Geneva that they would continue negotiations in Istanbul in late January to "find common grounds for cooperation".

FNA dispatches also reported that the Friday morning session was held under a positive atmosphere.

Dispatches also said that the world powers seem to be seeking to reach an agreement with Tehran on a framework for long-term negotiations that would determine the moves and steps to be taken by each side.

Reports also said that Iran, too, has no problem with compiling a negotiation modality or framework as long as it includes nothing which would impair its rights. Iran also wants any such modality to define all its contents under "common points for cooperation".