Zarif Terms Vienna II Talks ˈVery Successfulˈ

Vienna — Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif labeled the just-concluded Vienna II nuclear talks ˈvery successful.

Talking to IRNA in Vienna, Zarif said the meetings had been ˈvery successfulˈ as it clarified the situation for all sides.

There had been a gap in terms of understanding one another which has now vanished, he added.

Zarif said the G5+1 (US, Russia, China, Britain, France and Germany) used to have a wrong understanding of our objectives when it comes to Iranˈs nuclear program.

ˈToday the other side has finally grasped what we had been trying to say, especially when it comes to the practical needs of having a nuclear program which is logical and peaceful. And this by itself is a major progress,ˈ he added.

Another successful outcome of Vienna II is the fact that the position of all sides on the four major issues — enrichment, sanctions, international peaceful nuclear cooperation and the Arak reactor — has been clarified, according to Zarif.

What is also noteworthy is that dismantling parts of Iran’s nuclear program is not on the agenda and that there are already discussions on removing sanctions against Iran, he said.

ˈHowever, we are not at the stage yet to draft a statement to predict how big the differences still are,ˈ Zarif added.

The last round of nuclear talks between Iran and the G5+1 (UN Security Council big 5 plus Germany) which was hosted by Austria began on Tuesday and chaired jointly by the Iranian foreign minister and the EU foreign policy chief at the European headquarters of the United Nations ended on Wednesday evening.

Iranian negotiators leave Vienna for Tehran

Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and his accompanying delegation of nuclear negotiators left Vienna for Tehran after two days of intensive and tough talks with representatives of six world powers.

Zarif made the best use of his time during the two days of his stay in Vienna for diplomatic maneuvers, including a meeting with his Austria counterpart, a presence at the Austrian Parliament, and a meeting with the chairman and members of that parliamentˈs foreign policy commission.

Zarif all the same said that the actual negotiations on key issues for a final comprehensive Iran nuclear deal are to begin in late April

The Iranian Foreign Minister Zarif made the comment in a meeting with Iranian media representatives in Vienna on Wednesday.

ˈWe still have hard work ahead of us as the main negotiation process on the details of the main issues for a nuclear accord is to kick off in late April,ˈ he said.

That notwithstanding, the prospects for a deal are bright, Zarif added.

R.S