Iran, G5+1 Mulling Extension of Nuclear Talks

Vienna – An Iranian diplomat said on Thursday that talks between the Islamic Republic of Iran and G5+1 on possible extension of nuclear talks are underway.

Speaking to IRNA on condition of anonymity, the diplomat said during the talks between Iran Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton they studies latest developments in negotiations and also studied the possibility to extend nuclear talks between the two sides.

No agreement has been reached between the two sides and talks still continue on the issue, he said.

The exact time of the next round of talks has not been fixed, said the diplomat.

Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton on Thursday reviewed latest developments in Vienna-6 talks including probable extension of talks between Iran and G5+1.

Earlier on Wednesday, Zarif announced that the Iranian negotiating team is ready to continue talks until July 20 and Iran has not confirmed extension of the negotiations.

ˈAny time we reached a concrete conclusion that the talks should be halted or continued in another form, we are ready to welcome it but such a decision has not been made yet,ˈ Zarif said.

ˈWe are now focusing on the contents of the talks such as lifting of economic sanctions and probable extension of talks with G5+1,ˈ Zarif said.

Iran, US diplomats talks continue in Vienna

Meanwhile, on the 15th day of Vienna VI talks, consultations between delegations of Iran and the USA in the level of deputy foreign ministers are still in progress in Hotel Coburg in Vienna on Wednesday.

In a bilateral meeting, which started at 18:00 hours local time and still continues, Abbas Araqchi and Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi, deputies of Iran foreign minister are consulting with Wendy Sherman and Jake Sullivan, members of the US negotiating team, about compiling comprehensive nuclear agreement text and removing differences.

Also, today, Wednesday, simultaneously with trilateral meeting between deputies of heads of the negotiating teams in Hotel Coburg, Deputy of the US Secretary of State William Burns met with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif in his residence in the hotel.

The meeting took 45 minutes and the two sides discussed ways to make their viewpoints closer.

IRNA

R.S