Zarif, Ashton End Bilateral Nuclear Talks

Vienna – Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherin Ashtonˈs ended their bilateral meeting on Thursday morning, according to IRNA

the 2-hour meeting between Zarif and Ashtonwas aimed at drafting a final nuclear deal.

The meeting with Ashton, who coordinates diplomacy with Iran on behalf of six world powers, came as part of negotiations over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.

The Vienna negotiations are aimed at drafting a comprehensive deal to resolve the decade-long standoff over Tehran’s peaceful nuclear energy program.

Speaking to reporters in Vienna Wednesday evening, Zarfi said Tehran and the six world powers (US, Russia, France, Britain and China plus Germany) have already begun drafting a final agreement over the country’s peaceful nuclear program, but at the same time noted that the talks are tough.

Iran and the six world powers inked an interim deal on Tehran’s nuclear program in Geneva in November, which came into force on January 20. Under the interim deal until July 20, the parties were to draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which would lead to the lifting of all anti- Iran sanctions which had been imposed on Tehran by US and EU as well as UN Security Council.

R.S