The group of five + 1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members, plus Germany) and Iran, who previously held a round of talks in Istanbul on April 14, will meet again in Baghdad on May 23 to discuss the Iranian nuclear programme. The sanctions western nations have imposed over the years, targeting Iran’s vital oil revenues and ability to trade with international partners, will surely have an effect on Iran’s position in the talks.
The six countries aim to get Iran to stop the higher-grade uranium enrichment it started two years ago, and has since expanded, shortening the time needed for any weapons bid. Iran claims it needs the uranium enriched for its medical research reactor.
Recently, Iran issued a warning against Western nations ahead of the upcoming P5+1 talk and called for an end to the “Zionists’ pressures”. As for Israel, it does not “see any willingness from the Iranians to give up their nuclear ambitions,” said Israel’s Foreign Minister Avigdor Liberman, ahead of the talks.