Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran and the six world powers started the third day of nuclear talks in Austria's capital Vienna to prepare final deal on Iran's nuclear program.

The fourth round of the negotiations between Iran and the six other countries, namely the U.S., the UK, Russia, China, France and Germany began in Vienna on May 14.

The third day of talks began with separate bilateral meetings between the Iranian team of nuclear negotiators and the European members of the P5+1, the Iranian media reported.

Afterwards, the Iranians held a bilateral meeting with the U.S. delegation as well. The meetings took place at the level of deputies.

Iran and P5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) have been discussing ways to iron out differences to start drafting a final deal that would end the standoff over Tehran's nuclear energy program.

Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said on May 16 a comprehensive nuclear deal with the P5+1 is achievable.

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi, who is a member of the negotiating team, said earlier the talks are advancing in a good atmosphere but that progress is "very difficult and slow."

Last November, Iran and the P5+1 signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva.

The interim deal (the Joint Plan of Action), which came into force on January 20, stipulates that over the course of six months, Iran and the six countries will draw up a comprehensive nuclear deal which will lead to a lifting of all the sanctions on Tehran.

The U.S. and its Western allies suspect Iran of developing a nuclear weapon - something that Iran vehemently denies. Iran has on numerous occasions stated that it does not seek to develop nuclear weapons, using nuclear energy for medical research instead.