Differences somewhat reduced on Iran nuclear deal: Negotiator

A senior Iranian nuclear negotiator says gaps between Iran and six major world powers over the final text of a possible comprehensive deal on Tehran’s atomic case have partly narrowed, yet progress has not been made as expected.

"Differences of opinion on the text of a comprehensive agreement have been reduced to some extent, but not as much progress has been made as we expected," Seyyed Abbas Araqchi, who is Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said on Monday.

He emphasized that representatives from the Islamic Republic and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States, plus Germany - are working on the text of a final deal at various levels.

“The text of the deal is a complicated one, which has different technical, legal and, above all, political dimensions. The text must undergo full reviews, first at the level of experts and later at the level of deputy foreign ministers,” Araqchi pointed out.

The top Iranian diplomat also expressed hope that the gaps between Iran and its negotiating partners would narrow in the coming days, and the two sides could arrive at a common text.  

Araqchi described differences at certain areas as more serious and demanding more deliberation.

'Iran-P5+1 deal never so likely'

Meanwhile, according to Press TV's correspondent in Luxembourg, German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier held a meeting there with his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif.

Following the meeting, Steinmeier told reporters that Iran and the P5+1 have never been closer to a final agreement and that the foreign ministers of the group of six countries would hold plenary talks with Iran by the end of the week.

He underlined that the negotiating sides are likely to strike a final deal.

"In my view [an agreement] is possible, but it requires that Iran continue talks constructively and not to pursue a different path," said the top German diplomat.

He said the negotiators are set to enter the final round of talks though certain sticking points still remain.

"In these last steps, we as the foreign ministers are getting prepared for a final round of talks with Iran in the short time left," he noted.

"It's not an easy task. There have been one or a few obstructions," the German foreign minister said.

Steinmeier was further quoted by the Press TV correspondent as saying he hoped a final agreement would be reached between Iran and six world powers on Tehran's nuclear program, adding, "It is important to end this 10-year crisis."

Meanwhile, Araqchi went on to say that the Iranian foreign minister was also scheduled to hold one-on-one talks with his British and French opposite numbers, Philip Hammond and Laurent Fabius, and take part in a joint meeting with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini later on Monday.

US Secretary of State John Kerry would also probably travel to Vienna, Austria, at the end of the week for bilateral talks with Iranian negotiators, and the rest of P5+1 foreign ministers are also expected to join, the Iranian deputy foreign minister said, adding that the marathon talks are nearing their end.

High-ranking nuclear negotiators from Iran and the five veto-wielding members of the Security Council plus Germany are seeking to finalize a comprehensive deal on the Islamic Republic’s civilian nuclear activities by the end of June.

The final deal is based on the mutual understanding reached on the key parameters of such a deal in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.

MP/NN/HMV

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