Iran Nuclear Talks Fail to Bridge Gaps; No Resumption Date

Iran and world powers remain “far apart” after the latest round of talks on the Islamic republic’s nuclear program, the European Union’s foreign policy chief said. No date was immediately set for their resumption.

“Both sides will go back to their capitals” to consult on next steps, Catherine Ashton said at a press conference in Almaty, Kazakhstan today after two days of negotiations. “We’ve talked in greater detail than ever before” and there was a “real back and forward between us,” she said. “However, what matters at the end is substance.”

Iranian negotiator Saeed Jalili said the negotiations of the past two days were “substantive, intensive, comprehensive,” though the other countries “weren’t ready” for Iran’s proposal. He said it’s up to Iran’s interlocutors to demonstrate their sincerity.

Failure to advance the talks may add to pressure on Iran, which is already subject to sanctions aimed at restricting its nuclear program, including curbs on oil sales and financial transactions that are squeezing its economy. The world powers say they imposed the measures to prevent Iran from obtaining atomic weapons, and the U.S. and Israel have threatened military strikes to achieve that goal if diplomacy doesn’t work. Iran says its nuclear program is peaceful.

more here: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-05/iran-nuclear-talks-stall-as-contradictions-among-powers-emerge.html