U.S., EU confirm Iran nuclear talks to resume Dec. 17

WASHINGTON, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- The next round of Iranian nuclear talks will be held Dec. 17, officials at the U.S. Department of State and European Union confirmed Friday.

After the Nov. 24 deadline to reach a comprehensive nuclear agreement with Iran expired, international negotiators vowed to continue the talks for an additional seven months.

Delegates from Iran and the the P5+1 -- the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council (Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States) plus Germany -- have been in engaged in year-long negotiations. The November extension marks the second time the deadline has been moved. In July, Iran and the P5+1 countries decided to extend the talks for an additional four months.

"The Political Directors of the E3/EU+3 (also referred to as P5+1) and Iran will meet again on 17 December 2014 in Geneva for a one-day meeting to continue diplomatic efforts towards reaching a long-term, comprehensive solution," the EU said in a statement released Friday.

Iran's chief nuclear negotiator and deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday the Iranian delegates would hold advance meetings with with P5+1 representatives beginning Dec. 15.

Those advance meetings, the State Department said, will be chaired by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton. Acting deputy Assistant Secretary of State Wendy Sherman will lead the U.S. delegation to Geneva.