Iraqchi: Iran's Nuclear Negotiations with 1+5 to Be Held on January 18

Abbas Iraqchi, Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister, said on Tuesday that the new round of nuclear negotiations between Iran and the 1+5 group will take place on January 18 in Geneva, Switzerland. Previously, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran's Foreign Minister, had announced the date for the next round of nuclear talks as January 15, but Iraqchi clarified that Zarif's mentioned date pertains to bilateral meetings between Iranian negotiators and members of the 1+5. In an interview with the Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), Iraqchi stated, "Before January 18, the Iranian nuclear negotiating team will have bilateral meetings with the U.S. and Russian delegations, the dates of which are being arranged." This round of nuclear negotiations will be held at the level of deputy foreign ministers of the respective countries, but the Iranian Students' News Agency (ISNA) also reported the possibility of the presence of Mohammad Javad Zarif and Federica Mogherini, the EU's foreign policy chief, as well as Catherine Ashton, the representative of the 1+5 in the nuclear talks. On Tuesday, Zarif also appeared in the Islamic Consultative Assembly and defended himself against criticisms from conservative representatives regarding his performance in the nuclear negotiations. He emphasized that the current negotiations have led to the isolation of Benjamin Netanyahu, the Prime Minister of Israel, and that there is no longer any discussion about the principle of uranium enrichment and the closure of the Fordow site in the nuclear talks. One of the criticisms from conservative members of the Islamic Consultative Assembly towards Zarif has been the bilateral negotiations between Iran and the U.S., which have led to direct conversations between the foreign ministers of the two countries in some sessions. Iran and the 1+5 group extended their nuclear negotiations for another seven months in early December this year, an opportunity that may lead to a comprehensive nuclear agreement between the parties.