Iran 'optimistic' over nuclear talks

- Head of Iran's Atomic Energy Organization remarks come ahead of expected late-March deal.

 

Ali Akbar Salehi, Iran's atomic energychief, said Sunday he was optimistic over the course of talks on Iran's nuclear activities with world powers, according to state-run IRNA news agency.

He added that technical issues would dominate the next round of talks, ahead of an expected interim deal in late March.

'The facility at Fordow will top the agenda of the next round of the talks,' Salehi said. 

The P5+1 group had claimed Iran is developing nuclear weapons and wants its nuclear program curbed in return for lifting sanctions, while Tehran says its nuclear program is for peaceful civilian purposes.

The deal sought by the six-nation group would have Iran accept limits on its uranium enrichment capacity and allow International Atomic EnergyAgency inspections without interference of any kind.

U.S. top diplomat John Kerry had said on Saturday that gaps still remained in the process.

Negotiations were extended to July 1 after talks failed to produce a permanent agreement in November 2014.

By Furkan Naci Top

Anadolu Agency

enerji@aa.com.tr