Zarif Says If No consensus Is Made, Talks will Be Held Next Week

Geneva, Nov 10, IRNA – Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Saturday that if no consensus is made in talks with the G5+1, the next round of talks will be resumed next week or within 10 days. Speaking to reporters, Zarif said the talks have entered a critical stage and the parties are working on a text requiring consensus by all the seven states. He said that Iran has its own concerns and the six foreign ministers have been split in views. He said that the work got difficulty. it is natural, because there are six countries having different views and interests. The Islamic Republic of Iran is ready to reach an agreement if they settle their differences, he said. ˈHowever, we have had a great deal of progress.” Asked about tripartite talks with US Secretary of State John Kerry and EU foreign poicy chief Catherine Ashton, Zarif commented that Iran and the US have a long history of mistrust. “Since yesterday, we have had about seven hours of talks with the US secretary of state as we had serious talks with the French, Britain and German foreign ministers. Now, I go to meet Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov.” Responding to a question about approach of Iranian team, the foreign minister said, “I have said I will not talk about details of the talks to the media.” Zarif admitted that the views put forward by France is far away from that of the other members of Group 5+1. “What we consider necessary is that countries should know it is a process requiring mutual respect, equal stance and acknowledging rights of Iranian people to help lead the talks to an outcome.”/end