Tehran, Iran, Jul. 13
By Milad Fashtami - Trend:
Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister Seyyed Abbas Araqchi said on July 13 that significant differences remain in the nuclear talks between Iran and the P5+1.
Araqchi referred to the issue of uranium enrichment as one of the bones of contention in the negotiations, Iran's IRNA News Agency reported on July 13.
"Tehran has already put forward a number of proposals to narrow down the differences," he explained.
US Secretary of State John Kerry also said that some very significant gaps remain in negotiations between Iran and the five permanent members of UN Security Council plus Germany.
Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif is expected to meet with his American counterpart John Kerry in Vienna on Sunday afternoon at the sidelines of the sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries.
Araqcih said earlier in the day that neither Tehran, nor the P5+1 are willing to extend the nuclear talks beyond the July 20 deadline.
"If we reach new agreement until July 20 we may extend the talks for only a few days, and not more," he said, Iran's Mehr News Agency reported.
It is while Araqchi said on July 12 that the talks may be extended.
"If the two sides come to the conclusion that the talks are progressing, we may extend the negotiations, otherwise there is no need for such extension," he said, Iran's ISNA News Agency reported.
U.S. officials also warned Saturday that they would not seek to extend negotiations over Iran's nuclear program beyond the July 20 deadline unless Tehran's negotiators make major concessions in the next several days, Los Angeles times reported.
The sixth round of nuclear negotiations between Tehran and the P5+1 group of countries is currently underway in Austrian capital, Vienna.
Delegations from both sides are trying to finalize the text of a comprehensive nuclear deal within the next 20 days.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has described this round of talks as a unique opportunity to make history.
The two sides inked an interim accord in Geneva, Switzerland, on November 23, 2013. The next round of talks is to start in Vienna on July 2.