Top Iranian nuclear negotiator, Abbas Araqchi, represented the Islamic Republic, while European Union deputy foreign policy chief, Helga Schmid, represented the other side during the talks which ended on Friday.

Araqchi, who is also Iran’s deputy foreign minister for legal and international affairs, said the two sides have come to an agreement on the previously unresolved issues related to implementation of the Geneva nuclear agreement.

He added that if all sides accept the agreement, then there will be an official announcement within the next few days regarding the start of implementation of the Geneva deal within ten days.

Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain, and the US - plus Germany reached a breakthrough interim deal on November 24, 2013, in Geneva to set the stage for the settlement of the dispute over the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program.

Under the Geneva deal, the six countries undertook to provide Iran with some sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to limit certain aspects of its nuclear activities during a six-month period. It was also agreed that no nuclear-related sanctions would be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.

NJF/NJF