Pointing to the recent interim agreement reached between Iran and the six major world powers, Zarif stressed that the frameworks of the discussions have been set in the previous round of talks but they need more in-depth discussions.
“The Geneva Joint Plan of Action has almost clarified the frameworks and issues but it is necessary to discuss them with more precision and also [to discuss] follow-up methods,” Zarif said upon his arrival in the Austrian capital, Vienna, on Monday.
Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council – China, Russia, Britain, France and the United States -- plus Germany are scheduled to hold the next round of nuclear talks in Vienna on Tuesday.
The negotiations between Iran and the Sextet of world powers are aimed at reaching a comprehensive accord on the Islamic Republic’s nuclear energy program after the two sides clinched a landmark interim deal last November.
Zarif further said he would meet EU foreign policy Chief Catherine Ashton, who heads the Sextet of powers during the nuclear talks, on Monday.
“Tomorrow (Tuesday) our official session with the P5+1 will begin after a meeting with the Austrian president and foreign minister,” the Iranian minister added.
He pointed to the measures carried out by both sides over the past weeks and said, “It seems that [the measures] are a good beginning to reach a solution.”
“What is important to us is reaching a final agreement based on the preservation of the Iranian nation’s rights and interests and we hope we will achieve results in this regard,” Zarif pointed out.
On Sunday, an Iranian nuclear negotiator Hamid Ba’eedinejad said the upcoming talks in Vienna would focus on new and advanced centrifuges and Arak heavy water reactor.
Under the Geneva deal, the six countries agreed 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 will be imposed on Iran within the same timeframe.
RA/NJF