Zarif, European Counterparts Agree on Completing Draft of Final Deal

Tehran –   Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and his British, German and French counterparts agreed on continuation of writing the final agreement by the expert delegations in a serious manner to facilitate joining of the foreign ministers to the Vienna talks.

During the meeting in Luxembourg on Monday, Zarif, Philip Hammond, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Laurent Fabius and Federica Mogherini discussed the latest developments of nuclear talks.

They also agreed that their experts would also seriously follow up the work in Vienna and the foreign minister join the talks soon.

Zarif also held separate bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of the three countries and also Mogherini.

Nuclear issue, bilateral ties and regional development were among the topics discussed by Zarif and his European counterparts.

Clinching good deal more important than meeting deadline, says Zarif

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on Monday that clinching a good deal with six world powers is more important than meeting deadline.

Upon his arrival in Luxemburg, he said there are some technical and political differences which should be resolved within remaining time, he said.

‘We will do our best to finalize the deal at the earliest,’ he said.

To pave the way for clinching the final deal, all sides should avoid avarice policies or excessive demands beyond international norms, he said.

In the upcoming talks, all parties are to review latest developments in nuclear talks as well as current crisis in Yemen, Syria and spread of extremism in the region, Zarif said.

Iran nuclear deal has never been so close –German FM

In the same context in Berlin, German Press Agency quoted German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier as saying on Monday after his talks with Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif in Luxembourg, we have never been this close to reaching a nuclear deal with Iran.

An agreement is possible and we have never been so close but we have not reached it yet, Steinmeier said.

He stressed that the Lausanne framework agreement was the benchmark for the ongoing nuclear talks.

Steinmeier said the final round of nuclear talks is likely to take place next week, but did not provide a specific date or venue for the negotiations.

The German government reiterated earlier in the day that the June 30 deadline remained its target date for hammering out a comprehensive final nuclear agreement by Iran and six world powers (the US, Russia, China, France, Britain plus Germany).

IRNA

R.S