Updated 11:51 p.m. Moscow time.
NEW YORK, September 21 (RIA Novosti) - Iran and P5+1 international mediation group have achieved some progress on formerly controversial issues, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told RIA Novosti Sunday.
“There is progress, but it is slow. It’s important that this progress concerns the issues, which have not seen changes for the better,” the official said.
The official also noted that the next week’s arrival of US President Barack Obama and his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani to a session of the UN General Assembly could affect the negotiations.
New York currently hosts the talks between Tehran and the so-called P5+1 group of international mediators, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom, Russia, China and the United States. During the talks held in Geneva in November 2013, the parties agreed to reach a deal which would guarantee the peaceful nature of the Iranian nuclear program by July 2014. The deadline for the agreement was subsequently moved to November 2014.
The West and Israel accuse Iran of attempting to develop a nuclear weapon under the guise of a civilian nuclear program. Tehran argues that its nuclear development is aimed purely at meeting the country’s growing energy needs and achieving other peaceful goals. Earlier, Washington initiated UN-imposed sanctions against Iran, which significantly harmed Tehran’s national currency and certain sectors of economy.
