Zarif Says Will Talk to Preserve Iranian People Rights

Vienna – Foreign Minister of Iran Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that during nuclear talks in Vienna, the Iranian side will act in a way that will preserve the Iranian people’s rights.

Speaking to reporters upon his arrival at the airport, Zarif said reaching a final agreement will be possible, ˈif the other side enters into talks with realism. ˈ

The Iranian foreign minister arrived here to attend the fifth round of nuclear talks with the Group 5+1.

He is accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbass Araqchi, Deputy Foreign Minister for Euro-American Affairs Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Foreign Ministryˈs Director General for Political Affairs Hamid Baeedinejad, and Foreign Ministerˈs Advisor Davoud Mohammadnia.

ˈDuring the past few months we held several rounds of talks with the P5+1 and I believe that during the upcoming round of talks we have to begin drafting the final agreement,ˈ Zarif told reporters.

He added that the fifth round of talks would begin with a working lunch with European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, followed by a tripartite meeting with the US representatives later on Monday.

He said that on Monday, the two sides are to discuss ways to proceed with the nuclear talks between Iran and the six western powers (US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany).

ˈReaching an agreement is possible if the other side has a real determination,ˈ Zarif stressed.

Commenting on the possibility of reaching a final agreement before the end of the previously made deadline (July 20), Zarif said ˈWe are not due to reach a final agreement at this stage and we have still 30 days ahead before the deadline expires.

ˈThere are still some disagreements,ˈ Zarif said stressing that if the ˈother negotiating party is determined to hold serious talks then reaching an agreement will be possible.ˈ

Iran, US Can Reach Agreement, says Baum

In the same context, a professor at the Harvard University has said Tehran and Washington can reach a defendable nuclear agreement.

Speaking exclusively to IRNA, Matthew Baum predicted it would be hard to reach a final deal by July 20 but reaching a limited agreement by that time is more possible.

US and Iran are not necessarily obliged to reach a final deal by July 20 but can reach an agreement which can be defendable inside their countries and would prevent imposing further sanctions on Iran by US Congress, Baum said.

Such an agreement, he added, can also be considered a tangible progress in Iran-US talks.

After the end of the deadline, the biggest problem on the way of the nuclear talks is the US Congress, said Baum who is the Marvin Kalb Professor of Global Communications and Professor of Public Policy at Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government.

He added, if the two sides fail to reach some kind of agreement or prove that their talks had some progress, then the US Congress will exert great pressure to prevent continuation of talks with Iran.

Such possible move by the US Congress would also face President Barack Obama with some restrictions and considerations which would, in turn, further complicate the nuclear issue, Baum added.

He said the main issue in nuclear talks is not the number of Iranˈs centrifuges or removal of all sanctions, but is the existence of a firm political will and mutual trust for reaching a deal.

With a political determination, said the professor, all sanctions can be removed within 24 hours.

IRNA

R.S