Iran Warns Powers to Avoid Excessive Demands in New Round of N. Talks

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif reiterated Tehran's determination to reach a final deal with the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany), but stressed that Iran won’t accept any excessive demands by the world powers

Speaking in a meeting with French ex-Prime Minister and former Foreign Minister Dominique De Villepin in Tehran on Monday, Zarif said that the latest round of nuclear talks has reached a sensitive phase and Iran has offered different proposals.

He underlined that now it is time for the other side to show its intention to reach an agreement.

Zarif stressed that, unfortunately, excessive demands of certain members of the Group 5+1 have created an obstacle in the way of achievement of an agreement.

De Villepin, for his part, called final agreement between Iran and Group 5+1 in nuclear issue 'very important', and underlined that in case of access to a final agreement, the issue will affect the whole Middle East.

The 7th round of talks between Iran and the Group 5+1 was held in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly meeting last month.

The two sides held six rounds of negotiations in Vienna to reach a comprehensive deal after they inked an interim agreement in Geneva on November 24.

The Geneva agreement took effect on January 20 and expired six months later on July 20. In July, Tehran and the six countries agreed to extend negotiations until November 24 after they failed to reach an agreement on a number of key issues.