Zarif Hopeful about Final Deal with Powers

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif expressed the hope that the nuclear talks between Tehran and the world powers would lead to a final comprehensive agreement.

“Mr. Zarif spoke about (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu’s speech at the UN Congress and (US President Barack) Obama’s remarks on Iran,” a member of Iran’s Assembly of Experts told FNA following the Tuesday morning session of the clerical body.

The Assembly of Experts which elected Ayatollah Mohammad Yazdi as its new chairman today also hosted Zarif to inform the members on the latest developments in the nuclear talks with the world powers and other issues, especially those of the region.

According to the assembly member, Zarif also spoke of the two-phased negotiations (proposed by the US and rejected by Iran earlier) as well as issues related to the ISIL and other terrorist groups, and expressed the hope that Tehran and the world powers would be able to reach a final deal during the negotiations.

The remarks came as Iranian and American teams of negotiators held several days of talks in Geneva late in February. Then after two days of negotiations, Zarif, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi and President Rouhani’s brother and senior aide Hossein Fereidoun as well as US Secretary of State John Kerry and Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz joined their deputies in the talks.

Then Zarif traveled to Montreux, western Switzerland, last week for another three days of nuclear talks with Kerry.

Representatives of Iran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) also had deputy-level negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program in the city of Montreux following the Zarif-Kerry meeting.

The talks are expected to resume in Geneva on March 15. The same day, Zarif and Kerry plan to resume nuclear negotiations in the Swiss city of Lausanne.

Iran and the G5+1 negotiators have underlined that cutting a final deal before the July 10 deadline is possible.

FNA

R.S