Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The United Nations views the second round of negotiations between the US and Iran on April 19 as a good sign, and hopes it will yield positive results, a UN spokesman said. The second round of US-Iran indirect negotiations will be held in Rome, according to the Iranian Foreign Ministry. “We very much hope that the dialogue between the US and the Islamic Republic of Iran yields a positive outcome, which we’re seeing the lowering of tensions in the Gulf region, in the Middle East, and between the two countries,” Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for the UN Secretary-General, said at a daily briefing.
“We understand that there will be a second round from what I’ve seen, I think this weekend, which in itself is a good sign,” he said. “We will obviously be following it very closely.”
In early March, US President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iranian leaders, proposing negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme, while Iran later agreed on indirect talks. The first round of US-Iran indirect talks was held in the Omani capital of Muscat last week.
The White House said in a statement that the discussions were “very positive and constructive”. Iranian Foreign Ministry described their talks as “constructive”. The head of the United Nations nuclear watchdog said talks between Iran and the US are at a “crucial stage” and warned they have limited time to resolve their years-long standoff.
“There is a possibility of a good outcome but nothing is guaranteed,” Rafael Mariano Grossi, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency, said during a visit to Tehran . “We are multiplying our efforts to facilitate this process.”
