Iran’s Zarif, EU’s Ashton, US’s Kerry Meet in Vienna
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, US Secretary of State John Kerry and European Union Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton held a trilateral meeting in Vienna on Wednesday to discuss the ways for reaching a final deal on Tehran’s peaceful nuclear case.
The three top diplomats have reportedly focused efforts to settle the differences on the outstanding issues in a bid to pave the way for a final, comprehensive nuclear accord before a November 24 deadline.
The negotiations are aimed at ironing out differences and secure an agreement between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) that puts an end to the West’s 12-year-old standoff on Tehran’s nuclear program.
Later on Thursday, political directors representing the entire parties are expected to gather in Vienna for talks.
On November 24, 2013, Iran and the G5+1 (alternatively known as P5+1 or E3+3) signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.
Based on the interim deal, the world powers agreed to suspend some non-essential sanctions and to impose no new nuclear-related bans in return for Tehran’s decision to freeze parts of its nuclear activities.
In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 in the hope of clinching a final deal.
The two sides had held the most recent round of talks in New York on September 26 without making any tangible progress.