Iranian minister thinks nuclear deal possible before deadline

Vienna, Nov 18 (IANS/EFE) Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif confirmed here Tuesday that he believed it is still possible to reach an agreement on his country's nuclear programme before the Nov 24 deadline.

On his arrival in the Auatrian capital, where negotiations between Tehran and the P5+1 Group, comprising China, Russia, the US, France, Britain and Germany are set to conclude in six days, Zarif said agreement is possible as long as there is political will for it to happen.

The head of the Iranian delegation said that Tehran has offered many alternatives that guarantee the peaceful nature of its nuclear programme, while he warned that results would be "counterproductive" if the great powers resorted to sanctions.

For this reason, Zarif urged the US to recognise Iran's nuclear programme as a fact which cannot be made to disappear or be subject to punishment or coercion.

Zarif added that sanctions imposed on Iran for years by international community to force it to abandon some controversial aspects of its nuclear programme, have only increased the Iranian people's determination to resist.

Iran and world powers have less than a week time to reach a final agreement before the deadline expires Nov 24.

US Secretary of State John Kerry is also set to present in the final round of negotiations aimed a reaching an accord restricting Iran's nuclear know-how to civilian activities and to prevent it from developing a nuclear weapons capability.

The final phase of talks will focus on the controversial Iranian programme for enriching uranium, a material that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

Negotiators will also assess procedures for lifting the international sanctions that have been strangling the Iranian economy.

--IANS/EFE

bb/