P5+1, Iran hopeful for final deal before deadline
By Sara Rajabova
Another deadline for clinching a final nuclear deal to resolve the decade-old nuclear dispute with Iran is approaching an end.
The nuclear negotiators from the six world powers and the Islamic Republic pinned their hopes on reaching a comprehensive nuclear agreement on July 13.
Though the talks are at the final stage, the negotiating sides still cannot iron out the differences.
A senior Iranian negotiator said some outstanding issues still remain in the negotiations between Iran and six world powers over Tehran's nuclear program.
“Talks have reached the final breathtaking moments; certain issues still remain,” Abbas Araqchi said on July 13, Press TV reported.
He stressed that “as long as these issues are not settled, one cannot say we have reached an agreement.”
Araqchi also noted that there is no guarantee that Iran and world powers will reach a final agreement on Iran’s nuclear program tonight or tomorrow.
Araqchi’s remarks come as Iran and the P5+1 countries are making last-ditch efforts to clinch a historic deal over Tehran’s nuclear program.
China earlier said the P5+1 and Iran have reached the final stage and it is impossible to further prolong a signing of the agreement.
Although the sides have already reached the deadline, they are hopeful that they will come to a final agreement on nuclear dispute.
French President Francois Hollande said on July13 that talks on the Iranian nuclear program progressed and a deal remains imminent, RIA Novosti reported.
"Negotiations accelerated, I cannot predict when will be the agreement, but it is not very far away," Hollande said.
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani is also hopeful for a final deal in this round of negotiations.
On July 12, Rouhani said Iran’s negotiating team will come out victorious in the nuclear talks with P5+1 states.
“We have come a long way. Currently, we are very close to the peak of the nuclear talks, but there are still steps left to reach this peak. With the help of God, Iranian negotiators will emerge victorious from this difficult and complicated battle,” he added.
The nuclear talks, the latest round of which has been underway for more than two weeks in Vienna, aim to hammer out an agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program to end the West’s 13-year-old standoff with the Islamic Republic over the country’s nuclear program.
Among the remaining sticking points to be discussed in the last hours of the talks are the timing of the lifting of sanctions as well as the easing of an arms embargo against the Islamic Republic.
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Sara Rajabova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on
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