Iran Nuclear Talks Continue After 'Substantive' Discussions | WPN World People News

Iran and a group of six world powers continue their negotiations on Iran's nuclear program Wednesday, as they seek a long-term agreement to ensure it is peaceful in nature.

This round of talks in Vienna began Tuesday with what a spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton called "substantive and useful" discussions.

The spokesman, Michael Mann, said he would not make any predictions about the outcome.

"The most important thing is that a deal is done that is a good, solid deal that everyone can live with and everyone is happy with. And clearly, to do that as quickly as possible is also important, but it's the quality of the deal that counts," said Mann.

Iran and the group that includes the United States, Britain, China, France, Russia and Germany reached an interim deal last year for Iran to curb its most sensitive nuclear activity in exchange for limited sanctions relief.

As the talks go on, a large group of U.S. senators is calling for a set of "core principles" it wants to see in a permanent deal.

In a letter to President Barack Obama, 83 senators said Iran must understand there will be consequences for not reaching "an acceptable final agreement," including "much more dramatic sanctions."

The senators also said Iran must not be allowed to work around the sanctions that are still in place while the negotiations continue. The measures have hurt Iran's economy, and Iran wants them fully repealed as part of the final deal.

The letter also states that Iran "has no reason" to have enrichment facilities like its Fordow site or its Arak heavy water reactor, and that the government must explain "questionable activities" at its Parchin military site.

Iran has long insisted that Parchin is a standard military facility and not being used to develop nuclear weapons.

The West suspects Iran intends to use its uranium enrichment program to make nuclear arms, which Iran has also repeatedly denied.

Source: Voice of America