Iran, G5+1 Talks Difficult, Says Akbar Salehi

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi on Saturday said the ongoing Iran-G5+1 talks in Vienna were ˈdifficultˈ.

Talking to reporters, he noted that the Islamic Republic is doing its best and has adopted a logical approach in reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement with G5+1 in the ongoing talks in Vienna.

Iran and G5+1 are facing some difficulties in reaching an agreement, Salehi said. Tehran has shown necessary flexibility, he noted, adding, ˈIf the negotiations fail the other party would be responsible.ˈ

Iran and its negotiating partners have been discussing ways to iron out differences and achieve a final deal that would end the decade-old dispute over Tehran’s civilian nuclear activities.

On July 3, 2014, the two sides formally kicked off their sixth round of closed-door nuclear discussions in Vienna in an effort to reach a comprehensive accord as the July 20 deadline draws near.

Iran and P5+1 sealed an interim deal in Geneva, Switzerland, last November. The accord took effect in January and expires on July 20, but the deadline can be extended depending on an agreement by all parties involved in the talks.

Relatively good progress in drafting final deal, says Araqchi

Meanwhile,  Senior member of Iran’s nuclear negotiating team in Vienna Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday that relatively good progress has been made in drafting the final agreement between Iran and G5+1 while ˈno progress has yet been made over serious issuesˈ.

Araqchi is in the Austrian capital along with Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and several other senior diplomats for talks with representatives of the world six powers (US, Britain, France, Russia and China plus Germany) over Iran’s peaceful nuclear activities.

ˈWe have made progress over conceptual issues but no complete agreement has yet been made over main topics,ˈ he noted speaking in a televised interview.

The two sides ˈagreed on over 60 to 65 percent of the textˈ of the final agreement, Araqchi added noting that the remaining issues weighed heavily.

He expressed hope that arrival of G5+1 foreign ministers at the ongoing talks would lead to ˈa progress over main conceptual issues.ˈ

Araqchi reiterated Tehran’s ˈcommitment to its principled stancesˈ, noting that Iran would by no means give up its position.

The diplomat said that the Group 5+1 ˈneeded to get prepared to make serious and difficult decisions before the end of the July 20 deadline.ˈ

Araqchi stressed if a final deal was reached before the end of the deadline, foreign ministers of the G5+1 would return to Vienna next week otherwise, he added that new decisions will be made based on the present conditions.

We will continue our talks for a few days if deemed necessary, added the diplomat.

However, he stressed if the Iranian side comes to the conclusion that further talks would not be helpful and the other side would not give up its excessive demands, this would be no disaster and world will not come to an end. Iran will continue its (nuclear) programs.

IRNA

R.S