Iranian FM : Agreement before Nov. 24 possible

TEHRAN, Sep. 21 (MNA) – Iran's FM has said there might be the possibility of a general agreement in the nuclear talks even before November 24. In a meeting with Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Børge Brende, in the Iranian Liaison Office in New York on Friday, Mohammad Javad Zarif, Iran FM said, “Provided that all involved parties in the nuclear talks are prepared to take a difficult decision, there might be the possibility of a general agreement even before November 24.” Latest developments in the nuclear negotiations between Iran and the G5+1, various regional and international issues as well as some bilateral relations were discussed during the meeting between Zarif and Brende. In regard to the latest developments in Iraq, Zarif said “ever since the security of Iraq in the center and the north of the country was threatened by the terrorist group ISIL, Iran immediately helped Iraq.” Iran FM described the approaches of some regional and trans-regional countries in dealing with important and strategic developments in the region, especially in regard to Iraq and Syria, as unrealistic and stressed the need for reforming these approaches and considering the demands and the will of the people. Zarif deemed the threat of the terrorist groups in the region dire and said “one must avoid this illusion policy that by strengthening one terrorist group one would be able to eliminate other terrorist groups.” Børge Brende, Norwegian Minister of Foreign Affairs, stressed the exceptional role of Iran in the region and said, “were it not for Iran’s vigilance and early intervention in countering ISIL threats, this terrorist group would have dominated many important and strategic regions in Syria and Iraq.” Norway’s FM described the bilateral ties between Tehran and Oslo as increasing and stressed the need for more development in various fields. He also promised that he would raise the issues of Iranian students in Norway with the authorities and would endeavor to resolve them.