Ban voices regret at lack of progress in Iran's nuclear talks

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon today voiced regret that Iran and the E3+3 grouping – made up of the United Kingdom, the United States, China, France, Germany and Russia – were unable to reach agreement on concrete and reciprocal measures at their meeting in Moscow on Tehran's nuclear programme. "The Secretary-General hopes that, in advance of the forthcoming technical and political meetings, the parties strengthen their resolve to quickly achieve a negotiated solution that restores international confidence in an Iranian nuclear programme that could be deemed exclusively peaceful," Ban's spokesperson stated. "In this connection, the Secretary-General appeals to the parties to resume their diplomatic engagement with renewed intensity and with the utmost flexibility," the spokesperson added. According to media reports, the talks in the Russian capital on Monday and Tuesday failed to make any progress. A technical discussion is scheduled for 3 July in Istanbul, Turkey. Iran has repeatedly stated that its nuclear programme is for the peaceful purpose of providing energy, but many countries contend it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons.