Italy optimistic about Iran, P5+1 nuclear talks
By Sara Rajabova
Italy voiced optimism that the talks between Iran and the six world powers would lead to a comprehensive deal.
Italian Foreign Minister Federica Mogherini said Rome is hopeful that the nuclear negotiations would yield a favorable result before July 20, Press TV reported.
She made the remarks during a meeting with top Iranian nuclear negotiator as well as Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Seyyed Abbas Araqchi and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for European and American Affairs Majid Takht-e-Ravanchi in Rome on June 12.
Iran and the five permanent members of the Security Council - the United States, France, Britain, Russia and China - plus Germany have been discussing ways to iron out differences and start drafting a final deal that would end the West's dispute with Iran over the country's nuclear energy program.
Meanwhile, speaking at the annual meeting of the European Council on international affairs on June 12, Araqchi warned that Tehran is ready to continue its nuclear program, if an agreement to resolve the Iranian nuclear issue with the six international mediators cannot be reached until July 20.
Araqchi said the alternative that could happen if the sides don't come to an agreement is that Iran would continue to develop its nuclear program, increase the uranium enrichment to 21 percent, finish and transform Arak reactor, which is ready for 90 percent.
He noted that the time for settlement is extremely little, but Iran is ready to do everything possible to reach an agreement with the six countries until July 20.
Araqchi stressed that at the upcoming round of talks with P5+1 group on June 16, Tehran is ready to discuss the details and start writing a draft of a future agreement on the settlement, which must be reached before July 20.
In November 2013, the two sides signed an interim nuclear deal in the Swiss city of Geneva that came into force on January 20.
Under the deal, the six countries agreed to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period.
The next round of high-profile negotiations is scheduled for June 16-20 in the Austrian capital, Vienna.