World powers will hold their next talks on Tehran’s contested nuclear programme February 18, top Iranian and European Union diplomats agreed during Friday talks.
In an initial accord in November, Iran agreed with the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States - plus Germany (a group known as E3+3) that it would open up its nuclear programme so as to allay fears it was seeking atomic weapons.
In return, the world powers agreed to a progressive lifting of tough sanctions that have caused immense damage to the Iranian economy.
EU foreign affairs chief Catherine Ashton, who has led the international nuclear talks with Iran, said she had a “really interesting” meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Speaking about the upcoming talks to be held in Vienna in just over two weeks, Ashton added: “I very much look forward to working together with you then.”
The US State Department also confirmed the date and place of the next talks, after having earlier this week said that they would take place in New York.