World powers and Iran have had "their most
detailed talks ever" on Iran's nuclear programme,
the EU's top foreign policy official Catherine
Ashton says.
The two sides have held two days of discussions in
Geneva. Further talks will take place on 7 and 8
November.
Ms Ashton and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif called the talks "substantive and forward-
looking".
International negotiators were carefully considering an
Iranian proposal, a joint statement said.
The discussions in Geneva brought together Iranian
officials and representatives of the "P5+1" - the
permanent members of the UN Security Council
(Britain, China, France, Russia and the US) plus
Germany - also known as the E3+3.
"The participants also agreed that E3+3 and Iranian
nuclear, scientific and sanctions experts will convene
before the next meeting to address differences and to
develop practical steps," the statement went on.
At a news conference afterwards, Mr Zarif said he
hoped the talks would lead to the "beginning of a new
phase in our relations" and would help resolve "an
unnecessary crisis".
He said that he expected international negotiators
would need time to "digest and respond to" Iran's
proposal.
Iran has previously said its proposal at the two-day
summit in Geneva has the "capacity to make a
breakthrough".
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the fact
that "diplomats have for the first time begun more
substantive discussions with Iran".
"Iran will need to take the necessary first steps on its
programme and we are ready to take proportionate
steps in return," he added.
Spot checks
Earlier an Iranian official said snap visits to Iranian
nuclear sites could be part of a "last step" of any deal.
Lowering uranium enrichment levels could also be part
of a final deal, the official told Iranian media.
The talks are the first since Hassan Rouhani - seen as a
relative moderate - became Iran's president in August.
The West suspects Tehran of seeking to build nuclear
bombs, but Iran says its programme is purely for
peaceful purposes.
International negotiators want Tehran to take specific
steps to prevent it from ever being able to make
nuclear weapons, the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva
reports.
In return, they promise to lift some of international
sanctions which have been imposed in recent years.
Key international demands include the acceptance by
Iran of a comprehensive verification regime - with
unannounced checks - and a reduction in Iran's level of
uranium enrichment.
Asked about these two points earlier on Wednesday,
Deputy Foreign Minster Abbas Araqchi was quoted as
saying: "Neither of these issues are within the first step
[of the Iranian proposal] but form part of our last
steps".
Iran subscribed to a fuller inspection regime under the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which was
known as the additional protocol, until 2006.
The Iranian team at the talks was led by Mr Zarif,
although much of the actual negotiating was said to
have been delegated to Mr Araqchi.
Sanctions demands
Western nations have demanded that Iran halt the
production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20%
- a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons
capability.
They also want Iran to send some of its stockpiles
abroad, and shut down the Fordo production site near
the city of Qom, where most of the higher-grade
enrichment work is done.
Since 2006 the UN Security Council has imposed a
series of sanctions - including asset freezes and travel
bans - on entities and people involved in Iran's nuclear
programme.
Separate US and EU sanctions have targeted Iran's
energy and banking sectors, crippling its oil-based
economy.
Iran wants the sanctions lifted.
Mr Araqchi had earlier insisted there could be no
question of Iran relinquishing its stockpiles of enriched
uranium.
"We will not allow even a gram of uranium to go out of
the country," he was quoted as saying by Iranian
media.
detailed talks ever" on Iran's nuclear programme,
the EU's top foreign policy official Catherine
Ashton says.
The two sides have held two days of discussions in
Geneva. Further talks will take place on 7 and 8
November.
Ms Ashton and Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad
Javad Zarif called the talks "substantive and forward-
looking".
International negotiators were carefully considering an
Iranian proposal, a joint statement said.
The discussions in Geneva brought together Iranian
officials and representatives of the "P5+1" - the
permanent members of the UN Security Council
(Britain, China, France, Russia and the US) plus
Germany - also known as the E3+3.
"The participants also agreed that E3+3 and Iranian
nuclear, scientific and sanctions experts will convene
before the next meeting to address differences and to
develop practical steps," the statement went on.
At a news conference afterwards, Mr Zarif said he
hoped the talks would lead to the "beginning of a new
phase in our relations" and would help resolve "an
unnecessary crisis".
He said that he expected international negotiators
would need time to "digest and respond to" Iran's
proposal.
Iran has previously said its proposal at the two-day
summit in Geneva has the "capacity to make a
breakthrough".
UK Foreign Secretary William Hague welcomed the fact
that "diplomats have for the first time begun more
substantive discussions with Iran".
"Iran will need to take the necessary first steps on its
programme and we are ready to take proportionate
steps in return," he added.
Spot checks
Earlier an Iranian official said snap visits to Iranian
nuclear sites could be part of a "last step" of any deal.
Lowering uranium enrichment levels could also be part
of a final deal, the official told Iranian media.
The talks are the first since Hassan Rouhani - seen as a
relative moderate - became Iran's president in August.
The West suspects Tehran of seeking to build nuclear
bombs, but Iran says its programme is purely for
peaceful purposes.
International negotiators want Tehran to take specific
steps to prevent it from ever being able to make
nuclear weapons, the BBC's James Reynolds in Geneva
reports.
In return, they promise to lift some of international
sanctions which have been imposed in recent years.
Key international demands include the acceptance by
Iran of a comprehensive verification regime - with
unannounced checks - and a reduction in Iran's level of
uranium enrichment.
Asked about these two points earlier on Wednesday,
Deputy Foreign Minster Abbas Araqchi was quoted as
saying: "Neither of these issues are within the first step
[of the Iranian proposal] but form part of our last
steps".
Iran subscribed to a fuller inspection regime under the
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), which was
known as the additional protocol, until 2006.
The Iranian team at the talks was led by Mr Zarif,
although much of the actual negotiating was said to
have been delegated to Mr Araqchi.
Sanctions demands
Western nations have demanded that Iran halt the
production and stockpiling of uranium enriched to 20%
- a step away from achieving a nuclear weapons
capability.
They also want Iran to send some of its stockpiles
abroad, and shut down the Fordo production site near
the city of Qom, where most of the higher-grade
enrichment work is done.
Since 2006 the UN Security Council has imposed a
series of sanctions - including asset freezes and travel
bans - on entities and people involved in Iran's nuclear
programme.
Separate US and EU sanctions have targeted Iran's
energy and banking sectors, crippling its oil-based
economy.
Iran wants the sanctions lifted.
Mr Araqchi had earlier insisted there could be no
question of Iran relinquishing its stockpiles of enriched
uranium.
"We will not allow even a gram of uranium to go out of
the country," he was quoted as saying by Iranian
media.
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