Technical Gaps in Nuclear Deal Almost Bridged: Iranian Official
VIENNA (Tasnim) – Nuclear talks between Tehran and six world powers have made “tangible progress”, Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali Akbar Salehi said, noting that technical differences have almost been resolved.
The ongoing diplomatic talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) over Tehran’s nuclear energy program have made tangible progress since its resumption in Vienna some two weeks ago, Salehi told reporters in the Austrian capital on Sunday.
The technical differences have almost been settled, and the framework of the final agreement’s text regarding those technical issues as well as the relevant annexes are almost finalized, he added.
Salehi is a senior member of the Iranian delegation that usually liaises with US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz for coordination on technical issues.
In separate comments on Sunday, Iran’s foreign minister and lead negotiator, Mohammad Javad Zarif, rejected the idea of more extension of the talks.
“There will be no extension and we will keep working tomorrow (Monday) as well,” Zarif said.
Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as the P5+1 or E3+3) have been negotiating hard in Vienna over the past two weeks to nail down a historic deal on Tehran’s nuclear energy program.
Reuters quoted Alireza Miryousefi, a spokesman for the Iranian delegation, as saying that the agreement Iran and the sextet were working on was "a 100-page document".
The negotiating parties have given themselves until Monday to reach a deal. An initial self-imposed deadline of June 30 for the final accord has been extended three times so far.
