VIENNA (Sputnik) – Diplomats from Iran, as well as Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China and Germany convened in Vienna on Wednesday to continue working on a deal to ensure the safe nature of Tehran’s nuclear program.
EU's deputy high representative for foreign and security policy Helga Schmidt and Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi are coordinating the talks.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, who is Russia's top nuclear negotiator at Iran nuclear talks, said on Thursday that the progress in the talks showed signs of slowing down, raising concerns.
"Unfortunately, the progress pace…is slowing down. It worries us more and more because the time left to the deadline is getting short, and we must step on the final stretch as soon as possible," Ryabkov said.
The P5+1 and Iran have to work out a final agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program until June 30.
The West has long accused Iran of trying to develop nuclear weapons under the guise of a civilian nuclear energy program, and introduced sanctions against the country.
In April, Iran and the P5+1 group worked out a political framework on the Iranian nuclear program in the Swiss city of Lausanne. Under the deal, Tehran pledged to cut back uranium enrichment and decrease its number of centrifuges, in exchange for a gradual lifting of international sanctions.
However, Iran and world powers still disagree on a number of key issues, such as the mechanism of re-imposing sanctions on Tehran in case the deal is violated.
The negotiators have yet to agree on how to grant the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) access to Iran’s nuclear facilities, as well as a mechanism and time frame for lifting the sanctions.
