Iran, World Powers Enter Third Day of Nuclear Talks (+Video)
VIENNA (Tasnim) – A fresh round of nuclear talks between Iran and six major world powers that began on May 14 in the Austrian capital resumed on Friday for the third day in a row as diplomats from both sides seek to hammer out a final deal on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.
The third day of talks began with separate bilateral meetings between the Iranian team of nuclear negotiators and the European members of the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany).
Afterwards, the Iranians held bilateral meeting with the US delegation as well. The meetings took place at the level of deputies.
In the meantime, a senior member of the Iranian team said on Thursday that the nuclear discussions are advancing in a good atmosphere but progress is "slow and difficult".
Speaking to Tasnim, Abbas Araqchi also said it is “unlikely” that the talks will stretch into Saturday. He explained that the parties are negotiating “in a good atmosphere”.
His comments came immediately after a bilateral meeting between Iranian foreign minister and top nuclear negotiator, Mohammad Javad Zarif, and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton, who coordinates diplomacy with Iran on behalf of the six nations.
This is the fourth round of marathon talks in Vienna after the parties inked a six-month deal on Tehran’s nuclear activities in Switzerland on November 24, 2013.
The interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action), which has come into force since January 20, stipulates that over the course of six months, Iran and the six countries will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of the whole sanctions on the Islamic Republic.
Tasnim correspondent Abbas Aslani has this report from the Austrian capital of Vienna:
