Editor in Chief: Moh. Reza Huwaida Thursday, March 28th, 2024

Iran Must Make Further Concessions to Clinch Nuclear Deal: UK

Iran Must Make Further Concessions to Clinch Nuclear Deal: UK

British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond says Iran will have to make further concessions in order to reach an agreement on its nuclear program.

LONDON - Speaking to reporters in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, on Monday, Hammond added that while significant progress has been made in the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries during recent weeks, it would be extremely challenging to reach a deal.

"It remains the case that Iran has to make significant further movement if we are going to be able to secure an agreement," he said.

"There are a lot of complex and difficult issues that remain to be resolved before a deal can be agreed. Reaching a comprehensive, lasting and verifiable deal will be extremely challenging, but remains in all our interests," the British foreign secretary added.

Iranian officials have repeatedly warned that excessive demands on the part of the six negotiating countries would impede progress towards a final nuclear deal.

Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi said on Sunday that Western countries should arrive at a common position during the course of

“We are currently at a critical juncture and should reach the point, where we have a balanced deal that recognizes our nuclear program and lifts sanctions in exchange for confidence-building measures,” Araqchi pointed out.

A fresh round of nuclear talks is scheduled to resume in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Thursday with a planned visit between Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry.

The latest round of nuclear negotiations ended in Lausanne on March 20 after six days of intensive and serious talks with both Iran and the United States citing progress.

Iranian nuclear negotiators, headed by Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, (3rd R) meet the US delegates, headed by Secretary of State John Kerry (3rd L) in the Swiss city of Lausanne, March 17, 2015.

The talks between the United States and Iran are part of broader negotiations between the Islamic Republic and the P5+1 group -- Russia, China, Britain, France and the United States plus Germany -- to reach a comprehensive agreement on Tehran’s nuclear program as a deadline slated for July 1 draws closer. (Press TV)