Nuclear Talks Will Bear Fruit If G5+1 Do Not Seek Excessive Concessions, Says Rafsanjani

Chairman of the Expediency Council Ayatollah Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani said on Monday that the nuclear talks will bear fruit if the western governments do not seek too much concessions.

Speaking to Italian Ambassador to Tehran Luca Giansanti, Ayatollah Rafsanjani said that nuclear talks have reached sensitive stage and that the dialogue will reach a good result if justice is observed.

He expressed deep concern about the current waves of violence and bloodshed in Gza and said that Israel is the symbol of state terrorism and the Israeli leaders have perpetrated the worst form of violence against the defenseless Palestinian people who are in fact under siege in Gaza.

He exchanged the views with the Italian ambassador on the regional situation, especially Afghanistan, Syria and Iraq and said virus of terrorism has spread to the regional states which is dangerous for all.

He said discord among regional states has created a suitable atmosphere for growth of terrorists.

Iran-US talks intensive, comprehensive

Meanwhile in Vienna, an Iranian diplomat with the knowledge of nuclear negotiations said Monday that nuclear talks between Iran and the US were intensive and comprehensive.

ˈIt is too early to say whether we can reach an agreement by July 20 and we are still making every effort,ˈ the diplomat told IRNA on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to make public statements on the matter.

Asked whether there is any sign of narrowing the differences after face-to-face negotiations between Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry, the diplomat said, the two sides have not changed their views to a large extent, however, it is too early for conclusion.

Zarif and Kerry have held two rounds of talks since yesterday and they are going to have a third meeting later today.

Foreign ministers of Germany, France, Britain and the US joined the Vienna talks on Sunday to help narrow the remaining gaps with Iran.

After meeting with their counterparts and bilateral meetings with Foreign Minister Zarif, the three European foreign ministers immediately left Vienna. But the US secretary of state is still in Vienna, mainly because a key part of the differences, including the timetable for lifting of sanctions on Iran depends on the United States. Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – Plus Germany set July 20 as the target date for reaching a Comprehensive Agreement on nuclear dispute under an interim deal last November. Thus, in their last effort to meet the deadline, they started their sixth round of talks in Vienna on July 2 to proceed until July 20.

Zarif, Kerry conclude 2nd round of nuclear talks in Vienna

In the same context,  the second round of talks between Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry which took about two hours concluded Monday afternoon.

This afternoon the two foreign ministers will start the third round of talks.

On the 13th day of Vienna-6 talks between Iran and G5+1, foreign ministers from US, Britain, France and Germany joined negotiations to make decision and help resolve differences.

The European foreign ministers after series of talks among themselves and bilateral talks with Zarif left Vienna for their capitals but Kerry remained to continue talks on drawing a timetable for lifting economic sanctions on Iran.

Zarif after a five-hour talks with his American and European counterparts announced that the differences have not been solved and both sides will have very tough seven days of negotiations ahead.

IRNA

R.S