Iran, six world powers resume nuclear talks in Vienna

Vienna, April 9, IRNA - Deputy foreign ministers of the E3 plus 3 and Iran resumed their talks in Vienna Wednesday morning in a bid to finally wrap up discussions on all the remaining issues, according to IRNA. Referring to Wednesdayˈs agenda of the talks, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi told Iranian media representatives that it would be the last meeting where all sides would review all remaining issues in an effort to bridge any gaps or bring positions closer to one another. Araqchi said both sides were ˈalmost ready to go into draftingˈ of a final deal when they meet again for the next round of E3 plus 3 talks with Iran in Vienna in mid-May. ˈWe think that we are almost ready to go into drafting next time we meet in Vienna,ˈ he said, acknowledging that drafting the text was ˈthe most difficult partˈ of any negotiation. Araqchi stressed that all parties had ˈcome to a common understandingˈ on different issues. ˈI think we have been successful to some extent so far,ˈ he said. The Iranian official emphasized there had been ˈproductive discussions and very good brainstorming sessionsˈ on the first day of the Vienna III talks. He reported also on the creation of a joint expert-level commission, comprised of all seven parties involved in the talks, which would look at all aspects of implementing the Geneva interim accord. The joint commission was expected to start its work later in the day.