GENEVA — Negotiators from Iran and six world powers convened Thursday as American officials signaled that Washington is prepared to offer Iran limited relief from economic sanctions if it agrees to halt its nuclear program and reverse part of it.
Catherine Ashton, the foreign policy chief of the European Union, met Thursday morning with Mohammad Javad Zarif, the Iranian foreign minister, to discuss the arrangements for the first day of talks. Mr. Zarif touted the possibility of a breakthrough in remarks to reporters, perhaps calculating that it might encourage Western concessions. “If everyone tries their best, we may have one,” he said. “We expect serious negotiations. It’s possible.” A senior Obama administration official was somewhat more cautious in comments on Wednesday night, but also suggested that an initial understanding might be within reach. “I do see the potential for the outlines of a first step,” the official said. “I do think it can be written on a piece of paper, probably more than one.” The world powers involved in the talks with Iran are known as the P5-plus-1 countries, so called because they include the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council — the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China — plus Germany. The American delegation is being led by Wendy R. Sherman, the under secretary of state for political affairs. Mr. Zarif is leading the Iranian delegation.
FULL STORY:http://www.nytimes.com/2013/11/08/world/middleeast/iran-nuclear-talks.html?_r=0
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