In an exclusive interview with al-Alam on Wednesday, Michael Mann expressed hope the atmosphere would be positive for obvious progress in Iran-P5+1 negotiations.
The European official, however, stated that there has been no contact between P5+1 and Iran since the country’s presidential election which was held on June 14.
Meanwhile, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton hoped on Tuesday for reaching settlement over Iran’s nuclear issue in the near future.
Ashton stated P5+1 member states (the US, the UK, France, Russia, China plus Germany) wait for upcoming Iranian government to introduce its new negotiating team.
The EU Foreign Policy Chief met with P5+1 top officials on Tuesday and they emphasized the need for resolving Iran’s nuclear dispute through diplomacy.
“We have convened to review Westerners’ stance and to find a diplomatic solution for the Iran nuclear issue.” Ashton said, hoping that Iran’s new nuclear negotiation team will be identified as soon as possible.
Iran and the P5+1 group have held several rounds of talks on a range of issues, with the main focus being on Iran’s nuclear energy program. The two sides wrapped up their latest round of negotiations on April 6 in the Kazakh city of Almaty. An earlier meeting had been held in Almaty on February 26-27.
The US, Israel, and some of their allies have repeatedly charged that Iran may intend to acquire nuclear-weapons capability in the future.
Tehran has categorically rejected the accusation, arguing that as a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), it is entitled to develop nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.
NTJ/HH