The first round of talks between Iran and six world powers on a long-term agreement is expected to take place next month in New York, Western officials said on Monday. The deal will aim to curb parts of Tehran’s nuclear program in exchange for a gradual end to international sanctions.
“Waiting for official announcement, which should be soon,” a Western official told Reuters about tentative plans to hold the talks as early as mid-February at UN headquarters in New York City. “One of the reasons it’s moving to York is the UN infrastructure, similar to Geneva.”
Several Western diplomats, also speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the official’s remarks. One senior Western diplomat told Reuters that the six powers were looking at the early part of the week of February 16, though the talks were unlikely to begin before February 18 due to a U.S. holiday.
A U.S. official said Iran was currently exporting about 60 percent less oil than it was two years ago and would be held to those reduced levels.
Iran is under U.S., EU and UN Security Council sanctions for refusing to halt uranium enrichment and other sensitive atomic work that could help it develop weapons.
