Iran-P5+1 nuclear talks 'serious, objective'

Nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group in Geneva are taking place in "good, serious and objective atmosphere," said Michael Mann, spokesman of EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. The first round of negotiations have ended today between Iran and the P5+1, said Mann in reference to UN Security Council's five permanent members - the US, Russia, Britain, France and China - plus Germany. He said there was a difference between stopping uranium enrichment and halting the development of the Iranian nuclear program. Mann said Ashton met with Iranian foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif ahead of the talks to discuss the agenda of the meeting, including the outcome of meetings of experts between the two sides. The spokesman denied to comment on whether the talks touched upon political issues in the region. The meeting is "technical" in nature and deal with Iran's nuclear program and relevant UN resolutions. Meanwhile, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius said the international community was awaiting concessions offered by Iran during the Geneva talks. "The UNSC five permanent members, including France, are asking Iran to offer concessions so we can see progress in negotiations between the two sides, " he was quoted by the French i-Tele station. The Geneva talks, he added, would discuss pure technical matters related to the percentage of the uranium enrichment produced by Iran as well as the nuclear reactors. Fabius said Iran has the right to own nuclear technology for peaceful not military means military.