20-04-2024 12:33 AM Jerusalem Timing

Iran, G5+1 Resume Drafting Deal, UK Says Negotiators Reached Broad Agreement

Iran, G5+1 Resume Drafting Deal, UK Says Negotiators Reached Broad Agreement

A senior member of Iranian nuclear negotiating team said on Wednesday that Iran and the six world powers have already resumed drafting ways of resolution of dispute over Iran’s peaceful nuclear program.

TalksA senior member of Iranian nuclear negotiating team said on Wednesday that Iran and the six world powers have already resumed drafting ways of resolution of dispute over Iran's peaceful nuclear program.

Abbas Araqchi told reporters on Wednesday that Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the five permanent UN Security Council members plus Germany) could issue a final statement on resolution of key issues.

Deputy Foreign Minister stressed that any agreement between Iran and the G5+1 should guarantee removal of all sanctions and do not prevent Iran's research and development on advanced centrifuges.

Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif and the US Secretary of State John Kerry held talks amid breathtaking negotiations over Tehran’s nuclear program.

The Ministerial meeting between Iran and the Group 5+1 which started its work in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Wednesday ended for a breathtaking after two hours of discussion.

The two sides are negotiating a solution to the remaining disagreements and it is expected that they issue a final statement on resolution of key issues.

Head of the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran (AEOI) Ali-Akbar Salehi and the US Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz met also on Wednesday morning as part of efforts between Iran and the G5+1 aimed at reaching mutual understanding in the negotiations.

This is while the experts and deputies of the G5+1 and Iran are also reported to be holding separate discussions and consultations among themselves.

It is expected that Iran and the G5+1 foreign ministers start negotiations at the coming hours.

Speaking to reporters after marathon talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 in Laussane, Switzerland, early Wednesday morning, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said the negotiating teams from Iran and the six world powers have found solutions to a major portion of their differences and will start drafting the final deal later on Wednesday.

He voiced pleasure in the latest round of the negotiations and said, 'Very good progress was made in the talks.'

Asked if differences have been resolved, Zarif said, 'Solutions have been fully specified for most issues.'

Zarif expressed the hope that drafting the final nuclear deal would start 'Wednesday morning'.

'Drafting should, of course, start this morning,' he added.

He said the seven nations will likely issue a joint statement at the end of their meeting today.

A few minutes earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Iran and the world powers have eventually worked out an agreement, adding that the seven nations are now working on drafting the text.


Speaking to Russian media at the end of marathon talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, early Wednesday morning, Lavrov said Iran and the G5+1 have reached an agreement in principle on all key issues.

'Now this has to be drafted,' he said.

Iran and Group 5+1 started their new round of talks in Lausanne, Switzerland, on Thursday to narrow their differences over Tehran's nuclear energy program ahead of a July 1 deadline.

Iran nuclear negotiators have reached broad understanding, says UK

Britain’s foreign secretary, Philip Hammond, has said negotiators at the Iran nuclear talks in Switzerland have reached “a broad framework of understanding”, but that details still have to be agreed.

“I think we have a broad framework of understanding but there are still some key issues that have to be worked through,” the foreign secretary told a group of British broadcasters.

“Some of them are quite detailed and technical so there is still quite a lot of work to do, but we are on it now and we’ll keep going at it.”

He added: “We have made significant progress over the last few days but it has been slow going. We decided to break last night because some of the staff had been working through the previous night. We wanted people to be fresh as we tackle the last few issues that remain.

“We are now working on them this morning. I’m optimistic that we will make further progress this morning, but it does mean the Iranians being willing to meet us where there are still issues to deal with. Fingers crossed and we’ll hope to get there during the course of the day.”