Russia says ‘very good chance’ of Iran nuclear deal 'next week'
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says no fundamental disagreements remain over deal on Iran's nuclear programme
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Saturday that talks over Iran’s nuclear programme had eliminated the fundamental areas of disagreement and there was a real chance of reaching a deal next week.
“Our general impression is that there is a very good chance that must not be missed,” the foreign ministry cited Lavrov as saying in a transcript of the interview broadcast on TVTs television.
He said he was referring to a discussion with the European Union policy chief Catherine Ashton on the sidelines of the ASEM conference of European and Asian foreign ministers last week.
“Now there are no fundamental disagreements on the practical questions that need to be resolved,” Lavrov said, with both Iran and the group of six world powers ready to “seek points of contact”.
What is needed now is to “correctly draw up the agreement we have reached in diplomatic language, so that it is truly a joint document,” he said.
Yet he warned against adding further conditions for Iran to comply with when talks on curbing its nuclear programme resume in Geneva on Wednesday.
Lavrov said the talks should not focus on “submitting some artificial additions that do not help solve the main task and don’t essentially change anything”.