G5+1 FMs to Join Vienna Talks with Iran

(FNA)- The top diplomats of the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) will join their Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif and EU foreign policy Catherine Ashton in the nuclear talks underway in Vienna.

The G5+1 foreign ministers are likely to arrive in the Austrian capital as early as Friday, the Wall Street Journal quoted three diplomats as saying on Wednesday, adding that US Secretary of State John Kerry, who is currently in Asia, may travel to Vienna over the weekend. Zarif is already in the Austrian capital, heading the Iranian delegation.

Meanwhile, Michael Mann, the spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton, said on Wednesday that Ashton “is thinking about when to engage ministers as we move forward but no decisions have been made as yet,” adding “It would be an opportunity for them to take stock of where we are in the process.”

^{_{Michael Mann, the spokesman for European Union foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton}}

France's Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius also told French lawmakers on Tuesday that the US has asked foreign ministers from the six countries to join the nuclear talks in Vienna.

The sixth round of talks between Tehran and the G5+1 headed by the Iranian foreign minister and EU Foreign Policy Chief Catherine Ashton officially started in Vienna last week to draft a final deal between the two sides.

In relevant remarks on Tuesday, Zarif reiterated the Iranian nation's inalienable right to develop peaceful nuclear technology, and said Tehran will never strike a deal with the six world powers which ignores or undermines its rights.

"We do not accept to reach a solution at all costs as we insist on our rights while trying to find an acceptable, logical and long-term solution," Zarif said in Vienna.

Asked about the future of negotiations between Iran and the world powers, he responded, "I hope that the other side will be ready to see the realities, take our word seriously and accept that the Iranian nation has never withdrawn under pressure."

He noted that the best way for dialogue with the Iranian nation is through respecting and trying to reach mutual understanding with them.

"If they come to this conclusion, which we hope to happen in the coming days, reaching a solution will be possible," Zarif said.