Azernews.Az

By Sara Rajabova

Iran and the world powers have wrapped up their high-level talks on Tehran's long-lasting nuclear dispute without a tangible progress.

After the talks, the sides as always accused each other for failing to clinch the final deal during the negotiations.

The representatives of Iran and six world powers held nuclear negotiation on June 16-20 in Vienna to iron out differences and start drafting a final deal.

Iranian Foreign Ministry Mohammad Javad Zarif said there has been progress but the sides still have not overcome disputes about major issues.

He noted that a comprehensive nuclear deal between Iran and the six world powers is possible if the parties put aside excessive demands.

U.S. Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman, in turn, urged Iran to prove that its nuclear program is and will remain exclusively peaceful. She said Iran would need to shift its position.

The sides agreed to resume the talks on July 2, as the six-month period for reaching an agreement over Tehran's nuclear program is nearing to end and there is no deal yet between Iran and the six on a draft text of an agreement.

The recent nuclear negotiations between Iran and world powers took place in the background of the important events that occurred in Europe and the Middle East region, such as unrest in Ukraine, West's tense relations with Russia and unrest in Iraq.

Especially, the recent developments in Iraq have increased Iran's role in the Middle East region as an important regional actor.

Thus, the U.S. and some other countries have voiced their interest in cooperating with Iranian government against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), which seized part of Iraq's territory.

Iran's growing political influence in the region can contribute to bridging gaps between this country and the West.

Besides, the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) new positive report on Iran can also help two sides reach a final deal over nuclear program.

The monthly update report by the IAEA released on June 20 said Iran was meeting its commitments to limit certain aspects of its nuclear energy program under the Geneva deal.

The report noted that Iran has acted to eliminate virtually its entire stockpile of 20-percent enriched uranium gas.

It also showed that the sides are keen to reach a final deal and there is still hope for resolving the nuclear dispute until July 20 - the deadline.