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Iran says time ripe for West to choose between pressure and deal

Xinhua, March 21, 2015 Adjust font size:

The world powers should choose either to continue pressure against Iran or to come to agreement with the country concerning its nuclear issue, Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad-Javad Zarif said on Friday.

"The time is ripe for the United States and its allies to choose between pressure and agreement," Zarif twitted responding to U.S. President Barack Obama's Thursday call on Iranian leaders not to miss a "historic opportunity" to reach a reasonable nuclear deal.

"This is what's at stake today. And this moment may not come again soon. I believe that our nations have an historic opportunity to resolve this issue peacefully -- an opportunity we should not miss," Obama said in a video message to mark Nowruz, the Iranian New Year.

The Iranians have made their decision to "interact" with the world while their "dignity" is not violated, Zarif said, alluding to Iranian officials' persistence on "protecting the nuclear rights" of the country in the negotiations with the world powers.

World powers and Iran have sped up efforts for a framework agreement before the March 31 deadline, despite their differences on some key issues related to Tehran's controversial nuclear program.

The P5+1 countries -- the United States, China, Russia, France, Britain, plus Germany -- and Iran were expected to sit on the negotiating table in the Swiss city of Lausanne on Friday to reach a framework agreement ahead of the March 31.

The six world powers have set a June 30 deadline to forge a final and comprehensive agreement. Endit