Iran Foreign Ministry to lead N-talks with powers

DUBAI: Iranian President Hassan Rowhani said on Thursday the Foreign Ministry would take over future talks with world powers over Tehran’s contested nuclear program, according to IRNA.
Since 2007, negotiations have been conducted by Saeed Jalili, head of the country’s Supreme National Security Council and a veteran of the Iran-Iraq war who was seen by Western diplomats as an uncompromising ideologue.
IRNA gave no further detail as to who will be the chief negotiator to replace Jalili, but the announcement appeared to suggest Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif will either lead the talks himself or appoint another ministry official.
The move indicates Rowhani, a relative moderate elected in June to replace conservative hard-liner Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, may be trying to streamline the process and is looking to exert more influence, although Iran’s most powerful authority, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, retains the final say on any proposed deals.
The last round of negotiations in April with the United States, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany again fell short of any breakthrough. But some believe more progress can be achieved under Rowhani, who has pledged a more conciliatory and transparent approach to foreign policy by the Islamic Republic.
The six world powers have demanded Tehran cease enrichment of uranium to a fissile purity of 20 percent to reduce concerns that it could be used for nuclear weapons, allegations Tehran has repeatedly denied.