Iran nuclear talks enter final day
NEWS DESK (DİHA) - Talks to reach a preliminary agreement on Iran's nuclear programme are entering their final day.
Foreign ministers from six world powers and their Iranian counterpart have been negotiating in Switzerland ahead of a self-imposed deadline. US Secretary of State John Kerry said talks on Monday had produced "some light" but "tricky issues" remained. Ministers want to restrict Iran's nuclear programme in exchange for relief from crippling sanctions.
'More light' Iran insists its nuclear programme is for peaceful purposes, but world powers are worried about the country developing nuclear weapons. They want to keep Iran at least one year away from being able to produce enough fuel for a single weapon.
The final hours of negotiation in Lausanne are taking place between foreign ministers from the so-called P5+1 - comprising the US, UK, France, China, Russia and Germany - and Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif. EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini is also present. Mr Kerry said there had been "a little more light" on Monday, "but there are still some tricky issues. Everyone knows the meaning of tomorrow".
China's Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that the "marathon-like" negotiations had entered the final stage and that he was "cautiously optimistic". The differences between the parties were narrowing, he said. Negotiators worked late into the night and are continuing talks this morning in an all out effort to meet the deadline. The six global powers are closer than they have ever been to resolving the longstanding tensions over Iran's nuclear programme. Progress has been made on steps to curb and monitor Iran's production of enriched uranium, which can be used to make the core of a nuclear warhead.
But substantive differences remain. These include the pace of sanctions relief and the nature of restrictions on Iran's nuclear research and development. If a broad framework agreement is reached by the end of the day, it would be used as the basis of a final accord. No-one here has given a clear answer as to what would happen if it is not.
(nt)
