Iran, Sextet Not Inclined to Extend Nuclear Talks: Negotiator
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – A top Iranian negotiator said Tehran and six world powers are pressing ahead with the remaining time to clinch a comprehensive nuclear deal before a July 20 deadline, noting that none of the sides show tendency for an extension of negotiations for another six months.
While Iran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) have now only a week to strike a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program, Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said on Saturday night that it is still soon to decide on a possible extension of the talks.
The new round of talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3), which started in Vienna on July 2, is expected to run until July 20, when a six-month deal between the two sides expires.
As regards any possible extension of the talks, Araqchi explained that they are “likely to be extended for a couple of days or a couple of weeks”, but reiterated that no clear decision could be made right now.
“Within the next two, three days, we can state firmly whether the negotiations will meet the six-month deadline or an extension will be needed for a couple of days or weeks,” he added.
Araqchi also hoped that presence of foreign ministers of the negotiating parties in Vienna would help narrow down the differences and ease the way for the continuation of talks until July 20.
On Thursday, EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates diplomacy with Iran on behalf of the sextet, invited all foreign ministers from the six powers to Vienna to "take stock of where we are", her spokesman said.
US Secretary State John Kerry, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, British Foreign Secretary William Hague and Germany’s Frank-Walter Steinmeier are in Austria for talks over the next few days.
