US officials praise Iran’s nuclear proposal

US officials praise Iran’s nuclear proposal
Thu Oct 17, 2013 16:52:46

The White House has acclaimed Iran’s “seriousness” during the two-day nuclear talks between Tehran and the six world powers.

“We found the Iranian presentation very useful. The Iranian proposal was a new proposal with a level of seriousness and substance that we had not seen before,” White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Wednesday.

He, however, added that no one should expect an “overnight” breakthrough in the nuclear talks between Iran and the six world powers, namely the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany.

Meanwhile, top US negotiator Wendy Sherman also called the negotiations “detailed” and “substantive.”

Iran and the six powers wrapped up two days of talks over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday. The two sides have agreed to meet again in the Swiss city on November 7-8.

Following the talks, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said in a press conference that the negotiations “will hopefully be the beginning of a new phase” in the country’s relations with the six powers.

He further described the talks as “extensive” and “fruitful,” but did not elaborate on the details.

EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton also hailed the nuclear talks as the “most detailed” and most “substantive” ones ever held between the two sides.

She added that the six world powers are carefully considering a proposal offered by Iran at the talks, but noted that both sides have agreed not to disclose the details of Tehran’s proposal, which she described as an “important contribution.”

Zarif presented Iran’s proposal titled “Closing an Unnecessary Crisis, Opening a New Horizon” to the six countries during a closed-door meeting on Tuesday.

SHI/SHI

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