Roundup: Iran seeks final nuclear deal "but not at any cost"

Iran is seeking final agreement with the world powers over its nuclear issue although the talks are at difficult stage, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Marzieh Afkham said on Wednesday.

"As Mr. Mohammad-Javad Zarif has announced in his latest remarks, we want to reach an agreement as soon as possible," Afkham said, adding that "but not at any cost."

Iran and the P5+1 group, including Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States plus Germany, agreed in November 2014 to extend the deadline for another seven months.

The six powers agreed with Iran and were trying to reach a political agreement before the end of March, with a view to reaching a final deal by June 30.

The Iranian nuclear negotiators use every opportunity to narrow down the differences with the powers in a run for a comprehensive nuclear deal, Afkham said in her weekly press briefing.

Iranian nuclear experts also actively engaged in the negotiation process and the country has proposed its initiatives to this end, she said.

"Although the talks are very sensitive and difficult and the gaps have been tapered, we still need further negotiations," the Iranian official said.

"The negotiations are at the crucial stage and, as many observe, only a few steps are left (for conclusion), and the final steps are highly significant," she said.

The Iranian spokeswoman reiterated earlier remarks by the Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif, stressing that "nobody will suffer the loss from the (potential) agreement between Iran and the P5+1 group, and we hope that all the countries will be realistic in this regard."

On Tuesday, Zarif said that a comprehensive nuclear agreement will not hurt anybody and will benefit all the countries, particularly the regional states, according to official IRNA news agency.

Iran and the world powers have narrowed differences over the nuclear issue of the country and are close to an agreement.

Agreements on the generalities, including the continuation of Iran's uranium enrichment and the lift of sanctions against Iran, have already been reached, he added.

In the recent talks, experts from Iran and the P5+1 group have delved into the details over the issue and they are discussing "serious differences", Zarif was quoted as saying.

Despite recent "good talks" between the experts of both sides, "there are still serious differences over the details and they can be dealt with the political will of the other party," he added.

Asked about some of the U.S. lawmakers' push for more sanctions on the Islamic republic, Iranian spokeswoman said Wednesday that "we have always announced that the sanctions are an outdated tool and we hope that they have learned from the responses of the sanction policy and avoid further sanctions."

In the meantime, "we are cognizant about the new developments in the United States" over Iran's nuclear issue, she said.

Zarif said on Tuesday that "the other party should give up pressures on Iran."

Dialogues cannot get along with the pressures and no nation will talk under coercion, the foreign minister said, adding that a "realistic approach" of the other party will help clinch an agreement.

On Tuesday, several Democratic Senators in the U.S. Congress pledged not to push new sanctions legislature against Iran before March 24, giving President Barack Obama breathing room to reach a nuclear deal with the Islamic republic.

The sanctions bill would tighten economic restrictions on Iran if negotiators fail to reach a deal by June 30, the self-imposed deadline for a comprehensive agreement between world powers and Iran.

How much nuclear capability Iran can keep, and the steps to lift West-imposed sanctions against Tehran are the main sticking points for the ongoing negotiations.

Deputy foreign ministers from Iran are going to sit down with diplomats from the UK, France and Germany in the Turkish city of Istanbul on Thursday to further discuss Iran's nuclear issue. Endit