France has set three conditions for a potential final deal between Iran and the P5+1 group of countries over Tehran's nuclear program, PressTV reported.
French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said on Saturday that the six countries and Iran need to fulfill three conditions to hammer out a deal.
"We believe there are at least three indispensable conditions," Fabius told reporters as he arrived in the Austrian capital, Vienna, to join the nuclear talks, saying, "We want a robust accord that recognizes Iran's right to a civilian nuclear program," but which guarantees that Tehran does not seek "nuclear weapons."
"These are a lasting limitation of Iran's nuclear capacities in research and production. The second is a solid verification of sites including military bases if necessary. The third is an automatic return of sanctions in case of violations of the engagements made [under an accord]," Fabius said.
The French foreign minister, however, said the conditions are "not yet accepted by all parties."
He made the remarks as EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini and German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and British Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond are also expected to join Iran's nuclear talks in Vienna over the weekend.
Earlier on Saturday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif and US Secretary of State John Kerry held a meeting in the Austrian capital, which lasted for one and a half hour. Two sides are expected to resume the negotiations after a break.
The comments by Fabius come despite the fact that Iranian officials have already clarified that nuclear-related research activities will continue regardless of a potential final deal with the P5+1. Iranian officials have also said they will not agree to any inspections of military sites as part of such a deal.
Furthermore, Tehran has emphasized that all nuclear-related sanctions have to be terminated as the Islamic Republic begins to implement its side of the bargain.
The French foreign minister, whose country is one of the six countries negotiating with Iran, has a history of adopting hard-line positions vis-à-vis the Islamic Republic in the course of the nuclear negotiations.
Representatives from Iran and the P5+1 group - the US, the UK, France, China and Russia plus Germany - are holding extensive talks to finalize the text of a possible deal over Tehran's nuclear program by the end of June.
The two sides seek to seal a comprehensive deal based on a mutual understanding on the key parameters agreed upon in the Swiss city of Lausanne on April 2.