Zarif, Kerry Continue Nuclear Talks To Lessen Remaining Differences
Vienna–Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry met on Thursday to continue talks to lessen differences prior to clinching a comprehensive final deal.
Before the meeting, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI), Ali Akbar Salehi and the US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz met to resolve differences on technical issues.
Meeting between Iranian Deputy Foreign Ministers AbbassAraqchi and MajidTakht-Ravanchi with the European Union deputy foreign policy chief Helga Schmid lasted till 01:00 a.m. while the two sides held another meeting today.
Kerry reaffirms ‘real progress’ in Iran talks amid unresolved issues
US Secretary of State John Kerry reaffirmed there hasbeen ‘real progress’ in the Iran nuclear negotiations process even though unresolved issues remain.
Addressing the press in Vienna on Thursday, Kerry said talks for a historic landmark agreement would continue.
We are here because we believe we are making ‘real progress’ towards a comprehensive deal, he went on to say.
Kerry insisted his side was pursuing what he called a ‘quality agreement’ whichcould withstand the test of times.
‘If at the end we are able to reach a deal, it has to be one that can withstand the test of times. It’s not a test of days, weeks or months. It’s a test for decades. That’s our goal is here,’ he said.
And the simple fact is that despite all the progress we have made — and it’s real — some of the tough issues remain unresolved. We know that difficult issues don’t become easier over time, Kerry added.
Iran and six world powers — Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States — are inching towards a landmark nuclear agreement that could ultimately settle a more than 12-year nuclear dispute.
Zarif, Hammond meet amid marathon nuclear talks
Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad JavadZarif and British Foreign Secretary Phillip Hammond met on Thursday in Vienna to discuss ways of sorting out remaining differences between Iran and the P5+1 world powers.
In the meantime, Zarif’s deputies — Abbas Araqchi and MajidTakht-Ravanchi — held meetings with their US counterparts.
Fabius highlights unresolved difficult issues as talks continue
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius pointed out that a series of difficult issues remained unresolved as negotiations continue through the night in the Austrian capital.
Speaking to media representatives in Vienna on Thursday, Fabius reiterated there were still a number of problems and unsettled questions as talks between the E3 plus 3 and Iran would continue over night and tomorrow morning.
He said his country had always a constructive and firm position on the Iran nuclear issue.
Fabius said he would remain in the Austrian capital to continue the talks.
Iran and six powers are in triple overtime as they are trying to nail down a finallandmark comprehensive nuclear accord.
Salehi, US secretary of energy begin negotiations
Head of Atomic Energy Organization of Iran Ali-Akbar Salehi and the US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz are holding intensive talks on removal of disagreements on technical attachments.
Earlier, Abbas Araqchi and MajidTakht-e Ravanchi, Iranian deputy foreign ministers, resumed talks with European Union deputy foreign policy chief Helga Schmid.
Iran’s envoy to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Ali-AsgharNajafi, too, is present in today’s talks.
The negotiating sides missed an initial deadline of June 30 and all parties are agreed on a new, July 7 deadline.
However, in the wake of the outstanding issues in the talks, the EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said on Tuesday that the negotiations would continue for ‘a couple’ of more days.
IRNA
R.S