Good Nuclear Deal Outweighs Time Limits: Iran's Zarif
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran's foreign minister and chief nuclear negotiator Mohammad Javad Zarif underlined that Tehran favors a good nuclear deal with the Group 5+1 (Russia, China, the US, Britain, France and Germany), regardless of the time limits.
"We have come to Vienna with this viewpoint that we could reach good results within the next few days," Zarif told reporters upon his arrival in the Austrian capital on Saturday, adding that time does not matter but what matters is reaching a good deal.
Zarif is in Vienna to meet his counterparts from the six powers in a final push to hammer out a lasting nuclear deal, dubbed the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA).
Ranking diplomats and experts have been holding regular meetings in Vienna since June 17 to draft the text of the long-awaited deal.
On April 2, the negotiating parties reached a framework nuclear agreement in Lausanne, Switzerland, with both sides committed to push for the final deal until the end of June.
Elsewhere in his comments at Vienna's airport, Zarif said an agreement is within reach, provided that the other side recognizes the Iranian nation's rights, fulfills its duties and avoids excessive demands.
"Lifting and ending all sanctions are among the other side's commitments and we need to see such commitment in the other side seriously," he added.
The top Iranian diplomat is going to meet US Secretary of State John Kerry today to accelerate the process of drafting the text of the deal.
