Pars Today

Deputy FM and top negotiator of Iran Seyyed Abbas Araqchi in Vienna talks on the revival of the 2015 nuclear agreement, known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), says all documents are now almost ready for a final deal and it is time for other parties to the accord to make up their minds.

“We are now closer to an agreement than any time before, but bridging the gap between us and an agreement is not an easy task and needs decisions, which must be mostly made by the other parties,” he said ahead of Sunday talks between Iran and the remaining parties to the JCPOA in the Austrian capital of Vienna.

Araqchi, who is the deputy foreign minister for political affairs, added, "Today is the last day of the sixth round of the [Vienna] talks. We have gone through very busy days and very difficult work, and we are now in a situation that we think all the documents for an agreement are almost ready."

The negotiator, however, noted that some of the issues of dispute between Iran and the P4+1 group of countries are settled and some others remain unresolved yet.

He expressed hope that the sides would be able to narrow the remaining short distance in the next round of talks despite all difficulties and “reach a final conclusion.” However, he warned that that nothing can be predicted.

"For a few days, that I cannot say exactly how many days there will be, we will stop the talks and return to the capitals not only for further consultations, but also for making decisions," Araqchi pointed out.

His remarks came after Russia’s permanent representative to the international organizations in Vienna said a consensus on the revival of the JCPOA was “within reach.”

“The Joint Commission of JCPOA will meet on Sunday, June 20. It will decide on the way ahead at the Vienna Talks. An agreement on restoration of the nuclear deal is within reach but is not finalized yet,” Mikhail Ulyanov tweeted on Saturday.

SS