FM Asks Powers to Seize Opportunity for Striking Deal with Iran

(FNA)- Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif cautioned the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany) not to miss the present opportunity for cutting a final deal with Iran.

Speaking in a televised interview in Geneva, Zarif advised nuclear negotiators to use opportunity for resolution of the deadlock over Iran's nuclear program.

The Iranian top diplomat also said that he will discuss the country's peaceful nuclear program and the fight against terrorism in his tour around Europe.

Zarif noted that he will meet European High Representative for Foreign Affairs Federica Mogherini during his visit to Belgium.

The Iranian foreign minister is due to continue his European tour after meeting his US counterpart John Kerry in Geneva, Switzerland, on Wednesday.

He is scheduled to visit three European countries of Germany, Belgium and France after the conclusion of his talks with Kerry in Geneva.

Zarif and Kerry had three rounds of talks on Wednesday.

The talks were the first of kind in the new Christian years aimed at reviewing the ways to accelerate negotiations between Iran and the 5+1.

Done with his talks with Kerry, Zarif is to leave Geneva for Berlin to meet his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Thursday.

After Berlin, he will meet Mogherini in Brussels, Belgium.

Then, he will proceed to Paris to meet French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius.
Zarif is to discuss ways to fight terrorism and highlight the need to prevent offenses to religious holy notions under any pretext and in any form.

He will also review bilateral relations with the European officials.
Zarif’s deputies will continue bilateral negotiations with Kerry’s deputies in Geneva on Thursday.

Upon arrival in Geneva, Zarif called on his western counterparts in the nuclear talks to show courage and avoid drawing baseless redlines to make a landmark nuclear deal possible.

"Now we have come to a stage that requires the other side to take its decision in order to enable use to move forward," Zarif said upon arrival in Geneva where he later met his US counterpart John Kerry on the latest developments in talks between Tehran and the Group 5+1 (the US, Russia, China, Britain and France plus Germany).

"There need to be some new and comprehensive proposals, and we are ready to bring all issues to final results, but we should see the extent of the readiness of the other side," he added.

Zarif asked the western powers to take serious and brave decisions to help the negotiations move forward and produce results and avoid specifying improper redlines.