Obama, Merkel urge Iran to take final steps to reach deal

US President Barack Obama and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have exchanged views on the ongoing negotiations with Iran over its nuclear energy program.

In a telephone conversation on Friday, Obama and Merkel called for a “long-term comprehensive deal” with Iran.

The White House said the two leaders urged Iran to take the steps to resolve the remaining issues. "Iran must make the decisions necessary to resolve several remaining issues.”

On Thursday, the P5+1 –  the US, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – resumed sensitive negotiations in Switzerland aimed at reaching a comprehensive agreement in order to end the longstanding dispute over the Islamic Republic’s civilian nuclear work as a July 1 deadline approaches.

Trilateral talks were held between representatives of Iran headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, the US delegation headed by Secretary of State John Kerry, and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who was accompanied by her deputy Helga Schmid, in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Friday.

Zarif told reporters after the Friday talks that the two sides were not close to an agreement, and that the "other side needs to choose between pressure and political accord."

“The reason why I emphasize the other side’s political will is that the Islamic Republic of Iran has the political will at the highest levels, at the level of the Leader of the Islamic Revolution [Ayatollah Seyyed Ali Khamenei] and at the level of President [Hassan Rouhani],” he added.

“Therefore we have no doubts on the existence of political will from our side, we have to see the same political will, the same seriousness and the same convergence of opinion from all negotiators from the other side to become certain that reaching an agreement is possible,” Zarif stated.

GJH/GJH

Press TV’s website can also be accessed at the following alternate addresses:

www.presstv.co.uk