Iran, 5+1 group seeking lasting nuclear deal: former negotiator

TEHRAN,June 17(MNA) – Former Iranian nuclear negotiator Hossein Mousavian said Iran and the six major powers are making serious efforts to reach a lasting nuclear deal. Negotiators from Iran and the 5+1 group (the five permanent members of the UN Security Council and Germany) began the latest round of nuclear talks in Vienna on Monday. Mousavian said the two sides do not want to level charges against each other or create a tense atmosphere, and this is a “sign of the prudence” of Iran and the countries of the 5+1 group. In the Geneva agreement of November 2013, Iran and the 5+1 group set July 20 as the deadline for finalizing a nuclear deal. However, according to the Geneva agreement, the negotiations can be extended for another six months if an agreement is not reached by the deadline. Mousavian also said, “It is possible that the negotiations will be extended for another six months.” Commenting on the remarks by certain U.S. officials, who said Iran should not be allowed to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group, even if a final nuclear deal is signed, he stated that there is great pressure on the administration of U.S. President Barack Obama to backtrack on Iran’s right to enrich uranium. In an “unbelievable” way, the Israeli lobby, a group of Arab countries, Congress, and the terrorist Mojahedin Khalq Organization have started imposing coordinated and organized pressure on the Obama administration to backtrack on Iran’s right to enrich uranium. “My interpretation is that Obama and his team are serious about wanting to reach an agreement with Iran, but it cannot be denied that they also have limitations. Therefore, the two sides should adopt a realistic approach and should make the utmost efforts to reach a final deal in the first six months, which [ends] on July 20.” He also said it is possible that Iran and the 5+1 group will start writing the final draft of the agreement during the current negotiations, which began on Monday. He went on to say that the two sides can only hold a maximum of two rounds of talks before July 20 and it would be better to start writing the terms of the final agreement during this round. Even if the two sides cannot agree on a final accord after a year, they can continue on the current path and maintain the current situation, Mousavian stated.