Lausanne Nuclear Talks: Iran, Six Powers Hold Full Ministerial Meeting
TEHRAN (Tasnim) - Foreign ministers from Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany) started the first full meeting in Switzerland’s Lausanne on Monday to push for a long-awaited nuclear agreement on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear program.
Iran’s deputy foreign minister and senior negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, said on Sunday night that Monday’s plenary meeting will be “decisive”, since it will become clear afterwards whether the parties will come closer to an accord or not.
Such ministerial meeting was due to be held on Sunday night, but British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond’s late arrival delayed the session.
Araqchi also noted that the Iranian team is ready to stay in Lausanne and press ahead with the talks as long as necessary.
Ranking diplomats from Iran and the six nations launched the new round of negotiations on Thursday with the aim of reaching a lasting nuclear deal with an end-March deadline looming.
The parties have been working to agree on a preliminary framework accord by the end of March, to be followed by a comprehensive deal by June 30 that includes all technical details.
