Iran nuke talks still gloomy

After their negotiations in Geneva on Oct 15 and 16, the teams from Iran and the P5+1 countries - the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, Russia and Germany - for the first time, issued a joint statement, in which they described the talks as "substantive and forward looking". There seems to have been a shift from the standoff that prevailed under former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and there is a sense of optimism building ahead of the new round of negotiations on Nov 7 and 8.

After two-day talks between the P5+1 -- including Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States plus Germany -- and Iran, they for the first time agreed on a joint statement and announced on Oct 16, 2013 to meet again in Geneva on Nov 7-8. [Photo / Xinhua]

Since a new government took office in Iran in August, there have been positive signals that there might be progress as the new Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has adopted a softer stance on the issue than his predecessor and has sought reconciliation with the West.

Rouhani addressed the UN General Assembly on Sept 24, saying Iran sought constructive engagement with other countries, he reiterated that Iran's nuclear program was for exclusively peaceful purposes. Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif also exchanged views with the foreign ministers of China, the US, the UK, France and Germany on Sept 26, and US President Barack Obama talked with Rouhani over the telephone about the Iranian nuclear issue on Sept 27, which is the first time leaders of the two countries have spoken directly since they severed diplomatic relations more than 30 years ago. As a result, both sides are now speaking optimistically about finding a solution to the Iranian nuclear issue.

The rapprochement has come about because Iran is pressing to improve relations in a bid to end the sanctions that have crippled Iran's economy, which is dependent on oil exports. Iran's oil revenues have declined sharply as a result of the sanctions and there is high inflation and unemployment. Iranian citizens are increasingly showing their discontent at the ever-deteriorating economy, and there have been large-scale public riots. Rouhani is eager to ease the strained relations with the US in order to solve the domestic economic difficulties.