Iran optimistic about nuclear deal before deadline

A senior Iranian nuclear negotiator has expressed optimism about reaching a deal with six world powers on Tehran's nuclear energy programme before the Nov 24 deadline, state-run Press TV reported Wednesday.

"I believe we are still not in a position to judge whether or not we can achieve a deal before the deadline which is the 24th of November, but we are trying our best and we are hopeful and we are optimistic," Iran's Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs Abbas Araqchi said.

In an interview with France 24 television news network Tuesday, he said both Iran and the five permanent members of the UN Security Council - Russia, China, France, Britain and the US - plus Germany "are serious enough to come to a deal by the deadline".

Araqchi emphasised that Iran has "ideas for each and every problem which exist on the table" including uranium enrichment, the Arak heavy water reactor or Fordow facility.

"We have ideas and our ideas will address all concerns. We think that we are able to achieve our goal and the goal... is to ensure that Iran's peaceful nuclear programme is exclusively peaceful and will remain exclusively peaceful," Araqchi said.

Iran and the world powers signed a historic interim deal in the Swiss city of Geneva in November 2013. The agreement entered into force Jan 20 and expired six months later. In July, Iran and the six countries agreed to extend their negotiations until Nov 24 in a bid to work out a final deal.

The next round of nuclear talks will be held in New York in late September.

Araqchi further said the recent US move to impose new sanctions on Iran was inconsistent with the Geneva agreement.

"Actually we believe that this is against the Geneva agreement and against the letter and spirit of the Geneva agreement where we decided to take some measures by both sides in goodwill in order to provide a good atmosphere for the final negotiations."

On Aug 29, Washington imposed sanctions on over 25 individuals and companies, including shipping firms, oil companies, airlines and six banks over alleged links with Iran's nuclear energy programme.