Pars Today

Iran’s deputy FM and top negotiator Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said the outstanding issues pertaining to the deal’s revitalization require still remain, whose resolution calls for “serious” decisions to be made in the respective capitals of participating countries.

According to Press TV, speaking to reporters in the Austrian capital on Sunday at the end of the sixth round of talks between Iran and the remaining signatories to the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), he said the sides had managed to make progress, especially on the draft text of the conclusion of their talks.

Araqchi, who is also Iran’s deputy foreign minister for political affairs, called on the involved parties to make the necessary decisions with “seriousness and strong will” in order to help revive the nuclear deal.

The sides, he said, are now closer to an agreement than any time before.

“The agreement could be reached in the next round of negotiations although it cannot be guaranteed.”

Iran, P4+1 reach good understanding, closer to deal

The official also talked to Press TV's correspondent in Vienna at the end of the JCPOA Joint Commission talks, saying that Iran and the P4+1 group of countries have reached good understanding of what the deal looks like and have made good progress on technical details.

“Documents are almost ready; if there are still differences on the documents, there are very clear-cut differences that would ease the process of decision-making in the capitals,” the senior Iranian diplomat said.

“But again we have a very good picture of those differences, those key issues, and that would help decision-makers in all relevant countries.”

Araqchi once again reiterated that Iran and five other parties to the nuclear deal “are closer to a deal than any time in the past, but it doesn’t mean that we are there.”

The remaining job, Araqchi said, is “still difficult and needs lots of efforts and further talks. So we decided to cut negotiations here, go back home, not only for consultation, but this time for decision-making.”

Negotiating sides decided to adjourn talks for consultations: Top Russian negotiator

In a tweet on Sunday, the Russian ambassador to international organizations in Vienna, Mikhail Ulyanov, said participants at the sixth meeting of the JCPOA Joint Commission decided to adjourn the talks for consultations “in preparation for what is supposed to be the final round of negotiations.”

“The JC of #JCPOA met today, took stock of the significant progress made at the #ViennaTalks,including at the sixth round, and decided to make a break to allow participants to consult with their capitals in preparation for what is supposed to be the final round of negotiations,” Ulyanov, who is the head of the Russian delegation to the Vienna talks, tweeted.

In another tweet, the Russian diplomat responded to a comment on one of his posts and said all the sides in the Vienna talks, including the US, “have a difficult way to go.”

“I understand your scepticism. But let me remind you that negotiations on nuclear deal took many years. The #ViennaTalks on #JCPOA restoration last less than 3 months. Besides, no need to single out #Iran in this context. All participants have a difficult way to go, including #US,” Ulyanov said.

He also told reporters that consultations at respective capitals of the remaining JCPOA members aim to prepare the ground for what is supposed to be the final round of negotiations.

Ulyanov, however, noted that "nobody knows when negotiations will resume."

SS