World powers, Iran to resume n-talks Dec 17

World powers and Iran will resume talks here in Geneva on Tehran's nuclear programme next Wednesday, said a statement released by the European Union (EU) Friday.

The political directors of the P5+1 group -- namely China, France, Russia, Britain and the US plus Germany -- and Iran will meet Dec 17 in Geneva "for a one-day meeting to continue diplomatic efforts towards reaching a long­term, comprehensive solution", Xinhua reported citing the EU statement.

According to reports from Iran's official IRNA news agency, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said that two days before the talks, preliminary bilateral talks will be held between Iran and P5+1 delegations.

Araqchi told IRNA that all nuclear issues will be discussed in this round of talks.

Iran and the world powers have agreed to extend the nuclear talks and the Geneva deal for seven more months after the talks failed to meet the deadline to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement last month.

In the wake of the deal in November, US Secretary of State John Kerry said that sides would meet again in December to discuss the tough Iranian nuclear issue, and the expert-level meeting would start soon, aiming at a political deal within four months.

Iran has been a target of UN sanctions due to its alleged attempts to build nuclear weapons. The West accuses Iran of developing nuclear weapons under the cover of civilian nuclear programmes, which Iran has denied, insisting that its nuclear programmes are for peaceful purposes only.