Top diplomats from Iran, the United States and the European Union on Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program

Top diplomats from Iran, the United States and the European Union are holding a second day of high-level talks over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program in the Omani capital, Muscat.

 Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif (L), US Secretary of State John Kerry (R), Oman’s Foreign Minister Yussef bin Alawi (2nd R) and EU envoy Catherine Ashton (2nd L) in Muscat on November 9, 2014n (2nd L) in Muscat on November 9, 2014

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, his US counterpart John Kerry and chief European Union (EU) envoy Catherine Ashton kicked off fresh trilateral discussions in Muscat on Monday over outstanding issues regarding Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.
On Sunday, the three senior officials held two rounds of intensive negotiations aimed at facilitating the conclusion of a permanent nuclear agreement between Iran and the six countries – Russia, China, Britain, France, the US and Germany.
The extent of Iran’s uranium enrichment as well as a timetable for the removal of US and EU sanctions is high on the agenda of the Oman negotiations.
On Sunday, Zarif expressed the Islamic Republic’s firm determination to reach a final accord with the P5+1 group, which will fully safeguard the country’s nuclear rights.
The top Iranian diplomat also told Press TV on his way to Muscat that the illegal sanctions imposed on the country over its nuclear energy program have failed to realize the objectives intended by those countries that imposed them.
Iran and its negotiating partners are working to sort out a final deal aimed at putting an end to the longstanding dispute over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear activities.
Last November, the two sides clinched an interim nuclear accord, which took effect on January 20 and expired six months later. However, they agreed to extend their talks until November 24 as they remained divided on a number of key issues.