Nuclear Deal Certainly Single-Stage: Iran

Speaking at a weekly press conference in Tehran, Marziyeh Afkham underlined that removal of the entire anti-Iran sanctions is what the country has clearly called for since the beginning of talks with world powers for a long-awaited agreement.

Commenting on the latest round of nuclear talks between the Iranian and American teams in Switzerland, Afkham said “extensive” talks are in progress on the technical, legal and political issues. But it is early to judge on any progress, she noted.

Senior diplomats from Iran and the US have started the new round of nuclear talks in the Swiss city of Montreux since Monday with the aim of narrowing down differences over a comprehensive agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program.

“The technical, political and legal aspects are all mooted in the talks currently, however, beside the technical talks, sanctions in the political sphere is also one of the most serious issues being discussed,” the spokeswoman added.

While Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) are in talks to hammer out a final agreement to end more than a decade of impasse over Tehran’s nuclear energy program, Iranian officials insist that a possible deal should have all sanctions lifted.

The UN Security Council and a number of Western countries have imposed a series of sanctions on Iran, suspecting that its civilian nuclear program has been diverted to nuclear weapons production.

Tehran has constantly rejected the allegations as baseless, reiterating that its uranium enrichment program is for peaceful purposes only.

Several rounds of nuclear talks have been held in the past, and the current negotiations are aimed at securing a lasting accord by the end of July.