A top Iranian nuclear negotiator has dismissed notions that negotiations with the world powers have reached a deadlock.
“The talks with the West has neither failed nor reached a deadlock. The negotiations continue, although we have not achieved a tangible progress yet - which is not unusual,” said Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Seyyed Abbas Araqchi on Sunday.
“In the course of the negotiations we seek to establish Iran’s peaceful nuclear program, including the enrichment [right], and eliminate the excuses for exerting more pressures on Iran,” he said.
The Iranian diplomat argued that Tehran has entered the negotiations from the position of strength since the country has acquired all the required technology and facilities for full nuclear fuel cycle.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – the United States, Britain, France, Russia and China – plus Germany wrapped up their latest round of nuclear talks in Vienna on May 16.
Iran says there has been no tangible progress in writing the draft text of a comprehensive agreement over the country’s nuclear energy program.
According to an official close to the Iranian negotiating team the Western side was pursuing unreasonable and “excessive demands” during the talks.
Iran and the six countries have been discussing ways to iron out differences and start drafting the final deal that would end the West’s dispute with Iran over the country’s nuclear energy program.
In November 2013, the two sides signed an interim deal in the Swiss city of Geneva that came into force on January 20.
