Iran Negotiators See Progress in Geneva Nuclear Talks

إقرأ هذا الخبر بالعربية W460

Iranian negotiators said Friday that progress was being made in talks in Geneva with world powers, expressing hope to bridge differences and sign an elusive deal over Tehran's nuclear drive.

The remarks came after they said Thursday "no progress" had been made over points of differences on the second day of intensive talks in the Swiss city with the so-called P5+1 group.

There is "room for optimism," Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif told reporters Friday, according to Iranian media, adding that work on a draft agreement had begun.

"Differences of opinion remain and we are negotiating over them. God willing we will reach a result," he said after a one-hour meeting with EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton earlier in the day.

Zarif said without elaborating that "three or four issues of difference remain ... with one or two stronger."

The official IRNA news agency said those two issues were what Iran calls its right to enrichment as well as its under-construction heavy water reactor in Arak.

Zarif's remarks were echoed by his deputy, Majid Takht-e Ravanchi, who said the meeting on Friday had "brought the positions of each side closer."

"The issue of enrichment is a matter of discussion in the talks. We have declared that (enrichment) is our red line and we expect it is respected" in the draft agreement, Ravanchi added.

Iran insists in addition to sanctions relief, the P5+1 group -- the United States, Britain, France, China and Russia plus Germany -- should recognize what its right to enrich uranium, a process that could fuel nuclear power plants but also provide components of a bomb.

Zarif also hinted at progress over lingering points of difference.

"We discussed the issues of difference yesterday, and it was only natural for delegations to confer with their capitals," he said, according to the ISNA news agency.

"In some cases, the consultations have been fruitful," Zarif added.

The talks aim to clinch an elusive agreement to curb Iran's nuclear activities and render it incapable of producing a nuclear weapon.

Iran says its work is only for peaceful purposes and has no military dimension.

Zarif also hailed the "progress" made in three rounds of negotiations since mid-October over Iran's nuclear drive -- an international concern for more than a decade.

Comments 2
Missing patriot10 22 November 2013, 09:07

talking withe the big devil ? what a hypocrite. the ayatolla of lies!

Missing VINCENT 23 November 2013, 01:46

Yalla, nuclear engineering companies see dollar signs in the Gulf countries.