Russia will make every effort to help secure Iran nuclear deal: statement

TEHRAN,July 6(MNA) – The Russian delegation at the nuclear talks between Iran and the major powers will make every effort to help secure a comprehensive deal on Tehran’s nuclear program by the July 20 deadline, the Russian Foreign Ministry said in a statement issued on Friday. The statement also said that Russian negotiators will try to develop “mutually acceptable solutions” to help resolve outstanding issues. Iran and the six major powers (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) started a new round of talks in Vienna on Wednesday to hammer out a final nuclear deal to resolve the dispute over Tehran’s nuclear program, which has dragged on for over a decade. The talks, which are expected to continue at least until July 15, are meant to build on the landmark interim nuclear deal Iran and the major powers clinched last November in Geneva. Under the Geneva deal, Iran agreed not to expand its nuclear program for six months in exchange for limited sanctions relief. The agreement came into force on January 20. Iran and the major powers have set a July 20 deadline to clinch a long-term comprehensive nuclear deal. The deadline can be extended by another half year if both sides agree.