Iran Nuclear Deal Within Reach: Larijani
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's parliament speaker said a final nuclear deal between Tehran and world powers is absolutely within reach should the other side avoid excessive demands.
Speaking to reporters at a press conference in Tehran on Monday, Ali Larijani said he is upbeat about the final result of nuclear talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany).
"I’m not pessimistic (about the outcome of the talks) and said earlier that an agreement is certainly possible," he said, adding that many steps have already been taken and a deal can be achieved in the negotiations if “the other side avoids excessive demands”.
His comments came as a new round of nuclear talks between Iranian and American diplomats started in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Monday.
Diplomats say Iran and the Group 5+1 (also known as P5+1 or E3+3) are narrowing down the gaps to clinch a long-awaited nuclear deal.
Speaking to reporters on board a flight to Switzerland on Sunday, Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said Iran and the six powers are "very close to the solutions."
The top Iranian negotiator also noted that a final deal is "certainly within reach" in the new round of talks if the other side has the necessary political will.
In relevant comments on Saturday, US Secretary of State John Kerry said, "My hope is that in the next days that (a deal) will be possible."
After failing to hammer out a lasting accord by a self-imposed November 24 deadline in 2014, Iran and the sextet decided to extend the deadline for seven more months, until the end of June 2015.
