Updated 2:21 p.m. Moscow Time
VIENNA, October 8 (RIA Novosti) — Iran and the six nations negotiating with the Islamic Republic on its controversial nuclear program may meet in Vienna on October 15, a spokesman for the Austrian Foreign Ministry told RIA Novosti Wednesday.
Spokesman Martin Weiss said the meeting will "most likely [take place] on Wednesday, October 15," but its format is yet unknown.
Austrian Foreign Ministry spokesman also noted that the meeting is unlikely to be comprised of the same members that negotiated in Vienna during previous rounds of talks earlier this year before July 20, including Iran and six powers — Russia, the United States, Germany, France, Britain and China.
He stressed that this time the talks could be held separately between Iran and the United States or other six nations representatives.
On October 6, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said the date of the next round of talks between Iran and the group of six nations could be announced within the coming two weeks.
The Russian diplomat added the full-format meeting will be preceded by consultations between Iranian Foreign Minister Javad Zarif and the EU foreign policy chief, Catherine Ashton.
The West has accused Tehran of developing nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear program — claims repeatedly denied by the Iranian authorities. At a meeting held in November 2013 in Geneva, Iran and the P5+1 group agreed to reach a long-term nuclear agreement by July 2014. The deadline was later postponed to November 2014.
The latest round of negotiations took place on September 24, when the group of international mediators met with the Iranian delegation in New York to discuss the Islamic Republic nuclear program, although they failed to reach an agreement with Tehran on any of the key issues.
