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'Framework' for final deal reached at Iran nuclear talks

02 April 2015 19:34 (UTC +04:00)

Baku-APA. A framework was reached at marathon talks on Iran's nuclear program in Switzerland that will allow further negotiations towards a final agreement, Germany and Iran said, although it was not clear what details would be made public, APA reports quoting Reuters.

Western and Iranian officials at the talks said they would conclude with a joint statement announcing that enough progress had been reached to allow further negotiations until a final deadline of June 30.

"Agreement on framework for final agreement reached. Press conference following," Germany's foreign ministry said on Twitter.

Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif Tweeted: "Found solutions, ready to start drafting immediately".

A Western official said it was still not clear how much detail would be released about the degree of political understanding between Iran and the major powers.

The joint statement would be issued by Zarif and EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini, who has acted as a coordinator for the six powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States.

The powers are negotiating with Tehran to prevent it from acquiring the means to develop a nuclear bomb.

Representatives of all the sides sat for a full session of talks at around 6:00 pm (1600 GMT) on Thursday, and officials said they expected the statement around an hour later, although it could be delayed.

Zarif and Mogherini would release their statement and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry would then hold a news conference to explain the outcome.

It would wrap up eight days of marathon talks, extended after a deadline of midnight on Tuesday. The aim of the talks has been to reach a political agreement that could serve as the basis for a final deal by June 30.

Iran wants to preserve what it says is its right to peaceful nuclear technology, while lifting international sanctions that have hamstrung its economy.

The talks are the biggest opportunity for rapprochement between Washington and Tehran since they became enemies after Iran's 1979 revolution, but any deal faces scepticism from conservatives in both countries. U.S. allies in the Middle East are also skeptical, especially Israel and Saudi Arabia.

Throughout the talks, the sides have repeatedly said they were making progress but the negotiations could collapse at any time over disagreement on details.

The United States wants to extend the "breakout time" Iran would need to obtain the enriched uranium needed to make a bomb should it decide to pursue one, by placing limits on Iran's use of centrifuges to make the material and on its stockpiles.