Washington, January 12: Major powers are expected to meet in New York on Saturday to discuss Iran’s nuclear program, a senior U.S. official said on Monday.
The United States accuses Iran of secretly pursuing nuclear arms under cover of its civil nuclear program and has said it has begun discussing new sanctions to pressure Iran’s government to curb its nuclear program, without hurting ordinary people.
The U.S. official, who spoke on condition that he not be named, said if the talks occur, Washington would be represented by Undersecretary of State William Burns, who would travel to New York at the close of a trip to Moscow and Madrid.
“I believe there will be a P5+1 on the 16th in New York, but it will be up to the (European Union) to announce it formally,” he said, referring to a group comprised of Germany and the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council: Britain, China, France, Russia and the Unites States.
Iran says its nuclear program is to produce power so that it can export more of its valuable oil and gas.
–Agencies