DHAKA: Technical talks between Iran and six world powers aimed at resolving complex technical steps of an interim deal reached in November on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear issue were ‘slowly’ making progress.

Iranian deputy foreign minister Abbas Araqchi said Saturday, The Jerusalem Post publishes this report on Sunday.

The senior Iranian negotiator told state-run IRNA news agency that the expert-level talks, which resumed on Thursday in Geneva, were set to continue for a fourth day on Sunday.

‘The talks that extended to a third day are making progress but slowly,’ media quoted him as telling the television network.

The seven countries need to decide when the agreement goes into effect and to work out technical aspects of how Iran will suspend its most sensitive nuclear work.

According to Araqchi, the issue of uranium enrichment continued to be a point of contention in talks, as Iran remained adamant about maintaining such capabilities, IRNA reported.

On Wednesday, Iran said it agreed to restart negotiations with the P5+1 powers in Geneva after walking out of technical talks in Vienna last Thursday in protest against the US tightening sanctions, saying the move was against the spirit of the nuclear deal.

BDST: 1621 HRS, DEC 22, 2013
Edited by Robab Rosan, Current Affairs Editor