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Iran says nuke talks inch ahead in smoothing partial gaps with US

Xinhua, March 17, 2015 Adjust font size:

Iran and the United States are closing up gaps on some aspects of the country's nuclear issue, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said Monday after talks with his U.S. counterpart in Switzerland.

"Solutions in some areas are within reach. But we are still far apart in some other areas," Zarif was quoted as saying by state IRIB TV.

The bilateral talks covered myriads of topics, including sanctions against Iran and technical aspects of the nuclear program. "We need to continue the talks with all sides till Friday and wait for the outcome," Zarif said.

He noted that he will fly to Brussels, Belgium, Monday afternoon to discuss the issues with his British, French and German counterparts as well as other members of the P5+1 group, namely Britain, China, France, Russia, the United States and Germany.

On Monday, senior Iranian negotiator Abbas Araqchi said "differences remain in both technical and political issues" in the intensive talks.

"In general, the talks on Monday were satisfying. There is hope that this round of talks would end with some progress," Araqchi was quoted as saying by IRIB.

Fresh round of nuclear talks between Zarif and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry resumed Sunday evening in Lausanne of Switzerland to settle differences over the country's nuclear issue.

Iran and the P5+1 group are striving to make the outline of a nuclear agreement by the end of March, so as to clinch the final deal before the June 31 deadline. Endit