Iran Upbeat After Latest Round of Nuclear Talks
Published at
creisinger/Thinkstock(TEHRAN, Iran) — Iran’s negotiations with six world powers about its nuclear program appear to be making progress, according to Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif.
Iran’s Fars news agency quoted Zarif as saying Wednesday that a “comprehensive [agreement] is possible that respects the rights of the Iranian nation.”
His remarks came after two days of talks in Vienna with negotiators from the U.S., Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany, the so-called P5+1.
The goal is to build on a temporary pact that ends in July in which Iran has scaled back its controversial nuclear operations in exchange for the slight easing of some sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy.
However, many U.S. lawmakers and Israel remain skeptical that Iran will ultimately agree to curtail its uranium enrichment activities and allow complete monitoring of its nuclear facilities.
Without such a guarantee, there will be no permanent deal and the White House will be under pressure to intensify sanctions to prevent Iran from developing a nuclear bomb.
Meanwhile, the next round of talks is scheduled in Vienna, beginning April 7.
Copyright 2014 ABC News Radio