Azernews.Az

By Bloomberg

Russia said talks to conclude a deal on Iran’s nuclear program will continue at the level of political directors after foreign ministers failed to reach agreement ahead of a self-imposed deadline of midnight Tuesday.

It’s not important to complete negotiations by “artificial deadlines,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told reporters after 11 days of talks between Iran and six world powers in Vienna. “We are focused on reaching a good agreement.”

Foreign ministers can return to the talks to add weight to proceedings if needed, and about 10 issues are still to be resolved amid “significant progress,” Lavrov said. Disagreements remain over a so-called “snapback” mechanism to restore sanctions automatically if the Islamic Republic fails to comply with the agreement, while the lifting of a United Nations arms embargo on Iran is still a “major problem.”

After almost two years, diplomats say they’re closer than ever to sealing an accord that would return energy-rich Iran to world markets while giving regional rivals guarantees that the Islamic Republic can’t produce nuclear weapons. Iran says its program has always been peaceful, a claim the West disputes.

“We instructed our deputies, political directors, to continue this work for the next couple of days,” Lavrov said. “The closer you get, the parties get more interested in securing concessions from the other side. This is normal. It always happens in negotiations.”

‘Mutual Respect’

The talks involving Iran, the U.S., Russia, China, France, Germany and the U.K are continuing with “good will and mutual respect to avoid turning this into a victory for one side and defeat for the other,” Lavrov said. “Everyone wants to strike an agreement which would be a common achievement for non- proliferation.”

The main sanctions against Iran will be lifted in phases “based on reciprocity,” Lavrov said. A “special mechanism” will be established to examine complaints about compliance with the accord, he said.

The “time is still now” for an agreement on Iran and talks will continue even if ministers have to leave and return, Federica Mogherini, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, said in Vienna.