04-05-2024 11:50 PM Jerusalem Timing

Zarif: Outstanding Differences Still in Place over Nuclear Talks

Zarif: Outstanding Differences Still in Place over Nuclear Talks

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country’s talks with the world powers over Tehran’s nuclear program have not yet reached an agreement over their main bones of contention.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif said his country’s talks with the world powers over Tehran’s nuclear program have not yet reached an agreement over their main bones of contention.

"There are outstanding differences, but it doesn’t mean that these differences cannot be resolved," Zarif told reporters after meeting EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton in Vienna on Tuesday night.

"Of course, this doesn’t mean that a solution cannot be achieved. Everyone believes that this issue can be settled since actually, Iran's nuclear program is a peaceful program and a reality on the ground," he added, according to Fars news agency.

Stressing that working on solutions is necessary, he said that during the Tuesday talks among the Iranian, EU and the US officials, the participants proposed different solutions in a series of serious discussions, but they have not yet reached a common conclusion and "I believe that in case there is a political will, reaching a solution will be possible".

He noted that as long as the two sides don’t agree on all issues, no agreement can be said to have been obtained on any single issue.

"Yet, we still have time to reach an agreement," the Iranian lead negotiator concluded.