Time for political decisions on nuclear deal: Iran negotiator

Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Majid Takht-e Ravanchi

An Iranian nuclear negotiator says time is ripe for “political decisions” on a final deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries over Tehran’s nuclear program.

"If no agreement is reached [between Iran and the world powers], it would not be the end of the world. A good and lasting agreement needs political decisions and the time is now ripe for that," Majid Takht-e Ravanchi said on Sunday.

The Iranian deputy foreign minister added that the West should show more flexibility in the nuclear talks, saying, "Iran has shown enough flexibility so far."

He said Iran would never yield to the West's excessive demands just for the sake of an agreement, adding that a final deal is within reach if the six countries stop making such demands.

Marathon nuclear negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries are picking up steam as the sides are making efforts to iron out disagreements with just two days left before the July 7 deadline for a comprehensive deal.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China - plus Germany have been holding intense talks at the Palais Coburg in the Austrian capital of Vienna over the past nine days to nail down a final deal.

Russia FM returning to Vienna

After an intense weekend of talks between Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry, foreign ministers of other members of the P5+1 are expected to return to Vienna Sunday.

A spokesman for the Russian Foreign Ministry said Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will return to Vienna later in the day.

"The minister will head to Vienna today to join talks on Iran's nuclear program," the spokesman told Russian news agencies.

Meanwhile, French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius, his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier and UK Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond were also due to rejoin the Vienna talks.

Kerry statement

The US secretary of state made a statement about progress in the nuclear talks on Sunday.

Addressing the reporters in Vienna, John Kerry said "it is now time" to finalize a historic nuclear deal with Iran.

"It is now time to see whether or not we are able to close an agreement," Kerry told reporters ahead of the Tuesday deadline, adding that at present, the negotiations "could go either way."

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