Special to WorldTribune.com

NICOSIA — Iran said it suspended nuclear negotiations with the West.

Iran said it halted nuclear negotiations with the so-called P5+1 that
resulted in the lifting of billions of dollars in U.S. sanctions. Officials
said the Teheran regime was angered by Washington’s decision to designate
additional companies and individuals for sanctions.

“The Iranian negotiators interrupted the talks with the P5+1 for consultations in Teheran,” an Iranian official said on Dec. 12.

Officials said the Teheran regime ordered the suspension hours after President Barack Obama agreed to impose sanctions on more than a dozen companies and individuals, including those alleged to have been contributing to Iran’s nuclear and missile program. They said the latest sanctions marked a violation of a U.S. pledge not to augment the sanctions list in wake of the Nov. 24 agreement with Iran in Geneva, Switzerland.

“We are evaluating the situation and Iran will react accordingly to the new sanctions imposed on 19 companies and individuals,” Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said. “It is against the spirit of the Geneva deal.”

The last round of P5+1 talks with Iran was conducted at the technical
level in Vienna on Dec. 9-12. Officials said the two sides did not come to
an agreement on ways to suspend weapons elements of Iran’s nuclear program.

On Dec. 12, the Iranian delegation announced it was returning home.
Officials said the suspension of the talks delayed plans to implement the
P5+1 agreement.

“After four days of lengthy and detailed talks, reflecting the
complexity of the technical issues discussed, it became clear that further
work is needed,” European Union spokesman Michael Mann said. “There will now
be consultations in capitals, in the expectation that technical talks will
continue soon.”

  Abbas Araqchi, Iran breaks off nuke talks after new U.S. sanctions, Michael Mann, P5+1